Estate De Denneboom covers a monumental villa from 1854, a historic farmhouse and a vast nature reserve of approximately 21 hectares. The historic farmhouse ‘De Denneboomsche Hoeve’ serves as a meeting place for visitors, but the estate is not profitable. That’s why the estate’s manager, Thom van Rijckevorsel, came up with a new purpose for the estate: a funeral centre with a natural burial ground.
Problem
The idea for a natural burial ground was born in 2015. But the more solid the idea became, the greater the opposition. People living near the estate took their case to the Council of State to stop the redevelopment plan. The financier of the crematorium backed out. And the bank ended the financing and decided to put the estate up for auction. Everything was against Thom van Rijckevorsel.
At the beginning of 2019, ECOintention was approached to bring about a change.
Solution
In consultation with Thom van Rijckevorsel, the following objectives were drawn up:
- to strive for a vital, healthy energy on the estate;
- to ensure the smooth implementation of the redevelopment plan in order to make the estate profitable;
- to aim for the partial operation of the estate by a funeral company for the development of a natural burial ground and crematorium with a scattering meadow.
In mid-2019, the energetic change process was started by Nils Tabois and Willem Vlasveld.
Result
At first Thom van Rijckevorsel was sceptical about the process, but as the change process took shape he became more and more enthusiastic about the results.
‘Make Energy Work has really made a difference in our organization. The work atmosphere has improved and we are looking to the future with confidence. Positive results are noticeable, and it feels like we are on the right track.’
The results at a glance
- in August 2019, the atmosphere on the estate changed radically thanks to the positive effect of the ECOintention method; the closed, negative energy was removed, paving the way for healthy, vital energy;
- in September 2019, the case brought before the Council of State by local residents was decided in favour of Thom van Rijckevorsel: all objections were dismissed;
- subsequently, the bank’s auction of the estate was averted at the very last moment;
- and a new operator was found with well-founded financing for the redevelopment plan;
- not long after, the municipality gave the green light for the realisation of the redevelopment plan;
- Thom van Rijckevorsel and his daughter Pauline could once again look to the future with confidence.