Festive commissioning of first phase Village Heart Zwartewaal in new village hall the Gaffelaar

The program began at 1:20 p.m. in village hall the Gaffelaar, where students, teachers and parents of o.b.s. 't Want gathered for a celebratory moment. Alderman van der Kooi (education) emphasized the importance of the new school building; "This new school building offers children space to develop. A place where they can feel at home. I hope that later they will proudly say: 'This is where I was at school!'". By the director of EduMare Margreet de Vries, the interim director of o.b.s. 't Want Roos Vis, the Alderman and the student council balloons were released as a symbol of the opening of the new school. Afterwards the party continued in the decorated new school building.

Starting at 2 p.m., invited guests and Alderman Bal (spatial development) gathered for the official inauguration of the first phase of the Village Heart. This moment marked an important milestone for Zwartewaal. Alderman Bal explained, "The Village Heart will be a vibrant meeting place where education, culture and social facilities come together. This first phase with a new school and village hall is the beginning of a new chapter for Zwartewaal. In the second phase we will build 85 more homes. With this, we are strengthening the livability and connectedness in the village and building a future-proof village heart."

Chairman Henry Rijstenbil of Stichting Dorpscentrum Zwartewaal, which operates the village center, recalled the eight-year preparation, participation and realization process. He called it, for the volunteer board, "a project of long breath, turbulent and enervating." "But the result achieved with joint efforts we are proud of," he indicated. "The Gaffer 2.0 is a beautiful building, user-friendly with all the modern high-tech amenities." During the meeting, the municipality, o.b.s. 't Want, Stichting Dorpscentrum Zwartewaal, Zenzo Maatschappelijk Vastgoed, architectural firm NOAHH and contractor Aan de Stegge Roosendaal symbolically laid down puzzle pieces. The puzzle represents the cooperation and connectedness within the new village center and represents the gift that will be donated to the Village Center to mark this first phase; round colored seating and play objects also known as "smarties. 

After unveiling the puzzle, a toast was made together to this special moment. Afterwards, there was free walk-in until 4 p.m., during which residents and interested parties could explore the entire complex. They could also enjoy presentations and demonstrations by a number of associations and tenants in the village hall such as Soos 55 Plus, Boxing Godschalk, Jeugdwerk Zwartewaal, theater association De Komedianten, video and film club Phoenix, sports foundation Je Eigen Pad and Yoga-Indra. The spaces of hair salon De Spiegel, physical therapy M.S. de Wal and tea sommelier De Silveren Peer were also on display.

About the Zwartewaal Village Heart

The Zwartewaal Village Heart is an integral development where education, social facilities and meeting places come together. This first phase is an important step in the realization of a central point for the village, where residents of all ages are welcome. This will be followed by the demolition of the old school and village hall, after which the construction of 85 homes in several phases will start on that site. These are social housing, ground-floor apartments, single-family houses, semi-detached and detached houses.