This weekend Marion and I made a nice walk at the large pond just outside Haaksbergen known as “De Recreatie-vijver” (The Recreation Pond). But folks from Haaksbergen will most likely know it better as “De Bergingsvijver” (The Storage Pond).
This pond is artificial and was created in 1975. The goal of this pond was to store water in to prevent the flooding of the nearby streets. Hence the original name “Storage Pond”.
In the years that followed it turned out that this pond had also a very high recreational value. In the winter people came there to skate. And in the summer it was very nice to swim and to fish. The area is also wonderful to wander around. As the pond is rather deep, it turned out that swimming was too dangerous and is nowadays forbidden.
But still it is good place to fish. There are even some fishing spots created for people with a physical handicap.
The surrounding now more like a park. Big trees, bushes and nice lawns to saunter around on and seats to take a break
Many different kind of birds can be found around the pond. One of the two islands in the pond is normally not accesable by humans to offer an safe breeding spot for these birds.
Although it is nowadays forbidden, it was here where I as a young boy learned to swim. It was also one of the very few places where I fished (if I remember well, I fished twice in my life and once of those two times here at “De Bergingsvijver”). And it was of course a nice place to hang around with friends on warm days.
Marion also had memories of swimming here when she was young. She also remembered that as a young girl she took “her lovers” there. But she assured me that not much happened then apart from some shy kisses.
It was nice to walk there with all the memories coming back. Is it not awesome that we still have so many new things to tell each other?
“De Bergingsvijver”, or lets use its current name, “De Recreatievijver”, is now part of a big area meant for recreation. There are sportsfields for soccer, hockey and athletics. One can play tennis. The old “Oosterdorper” watermil is there, as is the old park “Het Scholtehagen”. There is modern swimming paradice. And a very good steakhouse.
I really can enjoy it to visit these places of the past. They bring back memories you almost forgot that you had them. Specially when you can share these memories with someone special.