Town twinning: Bocholt delegation plants friendship tree in Belgium
Beech tree now growing at the town hall in Belgisch-Bocholt // Company visits and exchange of experiences
An official delegation from the city of Bocholt has now visited the Belgian twin town of the same name. At the town hall there, the two mayors Stijn van Baelen and Thomas Kerkhoff planted a friendship tree - a beech, the heraldic tree of the German city.
The Belgian town hall is currently being remodelled in an energy-neutral way. The greening of the building with planting beds and trees is part of the sustainability concept.
The Bocholt delegation included Deputy Mayor Gudrun Koppers, city councillors Wilhelm Schepers, Stefan Schmeink and Dirk Hendricks as well as Agnes Epping (Chairwoman of the Bocholt Senior Citizens' Advisory Council) as a citizen representative. The city's European Affairs Officer, Petra Taubach, accompanied the visit.
Company visits to Belgian Bocholt
There is also a new industrial estate in the twin city. The delegation visited "AID Glass", a company that produces laminated and flat glass for businesses and homes, among other things. The visit to the Martens brewery was particularly impressive. More than 250 different types of beer are produced there from five basic types. The beer is stored in large stainless steel tanks. The production volume could fill seven swimming pools measuring 50 by 20 metres and 2 metres deep, they said. The brewery is one of the four largest private breweries in Belgium.
Culture and sport
The aim of every delegation trip is to exchange experiences and learn about so-called "best-practice examples". The delegation visited the "De Dambug" sports centre with multifunctional sports halls as well as a tennis and equestrian sports hall. The Bocholters were impressed by the dimensions of the sports centre. The Belgian twin town is home to 76 sports clubs. That is why it is also called "Sportgemeinde Bocholt".
The grounds also include running and mountain bike trails. The delegation found a successful example of the preservation of a windmill in the Bocholt district of Kaulille. Flour is ground in the mill there and processed on site. The freshly baked bread can be collected directly from the stone oven on two Saturdays a month.
Ideas for partnership-based cooperation
In various discussions, the delegation trip provided opportunities to talk about future partnership meetings. For example, there is interest in exchanging ideas with farmers. A choir concert could also be organised in Belgian Bocholt next year.
In addition, the community centre "De Kroon" offers good exhibition opportunities for artists. A special highlight in the programme was the "25 BTM Kreyel", a vintage car show with tractors, historic caravans and agricultural machinery. It is conceivable that interested parties will exhibit or visit this show next year from 24 to 25 May 2025.