1,250 signatures have been collected to prevent the only bakery in historic Megen from having to close its doors. The Antoon & Frans Bakery and Pastry Shop, in addition to being a shop, is also a daytime activity for people with disabilities. This makes him socially indispensable for the people of Megen. “This store gave my son freedom.”
For Berlinda van Vught’s family, the bakery is a place that changed their lives. Son Remco, a born and raised citizen of Megen who is now 31, has worked there for years. “He’s having so much fun,” his mother says proudly. “And it has greatly improved his independence.”
In the morning Remco goes to the bakery himself. No vans, no taxis: he can just walk. “He likes all the customers who work there and all the customers. This is life for him,” Berlinda explains. In the fifteen years he worked there, Remco may have gotten sick once. Every day he goes to the shop beaming.
But it is uncertain whether Remco can continue to do so. The municipality of Oss wants to pull the plug on the Antoon & Frans Bakery. “It’s a financial decision and there are too few customers,” says councilor and Megenaar Bas van der Voort. And he, like most of the villagers, does not agree with this.
“We have collected 1,250 signatures, which will be delivered to the municipality today,” says Van der Voort. They want a reboot, or at least a solid alternative for customers. Because they’re very upset.”
“It’s not just a bakery, it’s mostly a daytime business.”
“It’s not just a bakery, it’s above all a daytime business,” explains the councilor. “They get their appreciation from other residents here every day, because it’s also just a meeting place.”
And this is precisely what makes it so important for a mother like Berlinda. “People recognize Remco because they see him here at the bakery. When I walk with him on the street, people come up to him to say hello. ‘Hey, baker!’ they say. It’s so warm to see that you don’t hide someone with a disability, but rather include them in society.”
“I am confident that there will be a restart.”
These same fellow citizens now worked hard for the bakery. Anyone walking through Megen will see several posters on every street with the slogan “keep our bakery closer”. They collected 1250 signatures in a city of 1695 inhabitants. “I think it’s a lot and I’m also very proud of it,” replies Van der Voort. “I am confident that there will be a restart. Especially when the Municipality and the other parties see how much support there is.”
A poster in front of the window (Photo: Carlijn Kösters).
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2024-01-13 21:13:07
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