New owner in sight for north side of Gulbergen Estate

The Eindhoven Metropolitan Region (MRE) has awarded the purchase of the northern part of the Gulbergen Estate to Landgoed Heidehof, which intends to develop and manage the area in collaboration with Natuurbegraafplaatsen van Waarde (Natural Burial Grounds of Value). This is the outcome of a tender process in which MRE sought a buyer with a suitable plan for the northern side of the area. This concerns approximately 170 hectares on the northern side of the estate, between the A270 motorway and the Eindhoven-Helmond railway line. The Gulbergen Estate covers a total of approximately 325 hectares and is located between Eindhoven, Helmond, Nuenen, and Geldrop-Mierlo. With the proposed sale, the region is taking an important step in the development of Gulbergen into a regional city park with space for nature, recreation, and landscape.

Important step for the future of Gulbergen

The board of the Eindhoven Metropolitan Region, consisting of 21 municipalities, has been working on a new future for Gulbergen for several years. The ambition is to create a green recreational buffer for the increasingly busy region, where nature, landscape, and appropriate forms of recreation come together. 

Nature development and natural burial

Landgoed Heidehof manages over 1,000 hectares of nature in the Netherlands and has extensive experience in nature conservation and nature-inclusive agriculture. The plans for Gulbergen focus on nature restoration and conservation, nature-inclusive agriculture, and an appropriate combination of recreation, nature experience, and remembrance.

Part of the plans is to make room for natural burials. To this end, Landgoed Heidehof is collaborating with Natuurbegraafplaatsen van Waarde, an organization with experience at multiple locations in the Netherlands. Natural burials are all about peace, nature conservation, and sustainability and, in combination with nature development, contribute to the long-term protection and management of the landscape.

Continued

In the coming period, Landgoed Heidehof and the MRE will further elaborate the purchase agreement. It is expected that this will be submitted to the General Board of the MRE for decision-making around the summer. After that, the transfer of the land can take place. The MRE's development vision and the development direction established by the municipalities of Nuenen and Geldrop-Mierlo will serve as the framework for the further elaboration of the plans. Landgoed Heidehof will go through the necessary planning procedures for this purpose.