"It just can't be that this place is just for us"

Tilburg is a city of actions, rather than words. We do what needs to be done. Good, green ideas find their way. This can be seen and tasted in the city and its surroundings. Regional products are there for the taking. For the Nature on Your Plate series, we put on our boots an go exploring in four green areas, in and around Tilburg. Areas that give the city and its inhabitants light, air and space. Like landscape area Moerenburg.

An abandoned wastewater treatment plant, an unfinished highway, the remains of a burned-down department store in one of the lakes, a highway whizzing past the bike path at eye level, old glory and historic farms: a tad mysterious you can safely call Moerenburg, that green lung east of the city. Just beyond Ringbaan-Oost and the Wilhelminakanaal you imagine yourself far away from all the hustle and bustle: here you can disappear, immerse yourself, catch your breath or just blow off steam.

Rosemarijn and Maartje, photography: Jostijn Ligtvoet

A green and social heart

"Wait. You have to come and see this NOW." The interview for this article has been underway for a while when Rosemarijn van de Wiel jumps up from her chair. "There, look, there it is. A green woodpecker." Then, a moment later, "Just wait until you see me spotting the kingfisher, haha. That's just possible here. So close to the center of Tilburg." Rosemarijn, owner of Vergeten Fruit - she picks and processes fruit from trees of people who don't want to or can't do it themselves - we meet in an authentic Flemish barn in Moerenburg. Sitting next to her is Maartje Schel, founder of Allemans and owner of the property. Two Tilburg entrepreneurs with a green and social heart, who also work together a lot.

A sweet, spicy smell fills the room. A pan of plum jam is simmering on the fire in the large, open kitchen of the Flemish barn. Rosemarijn harvested the plums in the Allemansgaard, the orchard next to the barn, with participants from Project Lionel, a talent program for young people from refugee backgrounds that Maartje developed with coach Ellis Pruijn and Sterk Huis. The participants processed most of the plums into jam or cake that they ate together or took with them; the part that remained is now in the pan. "That's exactly it: Rosemarijn cares about forgotten fruit and knows all about picking and processing it. Allemans is there for vulnerable Tilburgers, like Lionel's youth," Maartje says. "This is how we bring different worlds together. When that succeeds, like with project Lionel, I am really incredibly proud."

OUTSIDE THE BUBBLE

In the "Nature on Your Plate" series, Allemans is, at first glance, a bit of an oddity. After all, Maartje does not sell regional products from her foundation. And Allemans is not always open to everyone, except during special walks or open days. On the other hand, the jam from Vergeten Fruit - made in Allemans' kitchen - can be found at a local market near you. The same goes for the wooden spoons from Studio JAHE, made with wood from Moerenburg, at Allemans. And for the handmade sourdough breads of micro bakery Deesem, fresh from the monumental bakery of Allemans. The work of the artist working temporarily at Allemans, Maartje thus encourages budding artists with an artist in residency spot, you're sure to come across elsewhere in town.

"This summer we had a residency of a group of music producers here. At the same time, the space was rented out to an all-volunteer allotment club," Maartje says with a laugh. All day she mulled over how to manage that situation. Because yes, those musicians would produce noise left or right. And the allotment holders are more of the stroke: green and quiet. "I turned it around: the Allotment Association meeting began with a short demo of the music producers. Two groups that might not easily meet, met here. And become curious about each other as a result. Then when I see that happen, I'm a very happy person. That's what I do it for."

A place to share

The sun is slowly sinking toward the horizon on this autumnal Friday afternoon. A languid light reflects on the swimming pond in front of Allemans. It is not hard to imagine people feeling at home in this Moerenburg yard. Whether they are Tilburgers in a talent program, companies renting Allemans' space for a meeting, or artists and entrepreneurs working at Allemans. Maartje: "My husband and I live next door, with our children. When we had to renovate this monumental Flemish barn after a storm, I knew, I want to share this beauty with others. It can't be just for us. And so Allemans was born. A talent development place for and by Tilburg residents. So for anyone with a good plan: be welcome!"

Rosemarijn and Maartje, photography: Jostijn Ligtvoet

Rosemarijn of Vergeten Fruit rescues unplucked fruit from the region. She processes the fruit with social initiatives, donating it to the Food Bank, among others. A small part of her production she sells at regional markets. You can read more about this on her website.

Bij Allemans you can meet and sleep. The costs go directly to the Allemans Foundation, which Maartje uses to finance social initiatives. Instagram keeps you up to date on Allemans' activities.