Gathering in Muizen
How do we build the square together?
Can all voices be present?
How do we want to live together democratically?
How do we engage in dialogue?
Can all voices of Muizen be heard?
Do things like the square also have a voice?
How do we make the square together?
How do we build the square together?
we are now going to start with the first part
it's actually a referendum
about the square we're sitting on now
the idea is that later we vote on the proposals
so you got the program
you see there is a band at the top
and that you, every page has a color
and actually you see those colors here as well
from yes to no
yes?
so it's actually kind of gradual voting
but that will become clear later
I think we can just start by watching the first video
hello, I'm Kris Mys
with our archituctural office, by now 15 years ago
we renovated the dorpshuis and built the square
we set up the zocalo
an idea from Mexico, where not only in Mexico city
but also in small towns, small villages even
there's always such a zocalo, something like, a pedestal in Dutch
so a base
to say, this where public life, community life
social dynamics have their place
we had hoped that the school and the classes and the children
would make use of that
then there was the red cross
then there were studio's over there
which actually could open themselves towards the edge
we wanted to get rid of that gate
an additional access
we wanted to get rid of that door
an extra passage to everything behind it
that the square becomes really porous and crossable
and an intersection of roads and people
so the question is, very simple: should we open up more entrances to the square?
yes, I heard the gentleman say something about that gate
that there would be access to what's behind it
but behind that is just the school playground
as a parent of someone from the school, of one of the children
I think that could be a good entrance
to connect the school with the playground
um, as long as the zocalo square isn't more accessible
meaning more usable
it doesn't make much sense to make more entrances there, I think
one, two, three
those are the full no's?
four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen
fourteen no's
ok, we move on to the second vote
rue-leaved saxifrage
that little flower?
yes
and if you look carefully, but you have to move a little lower
to the chalice, so the brown where the white comes out
that is, rue-leaved saxifrage, here you can see the best
yellow flowers right?
yellow flowers, yes, that's St. John's wort
that's a plant that's still used in
not only in folk medicine but also in official medicine it is still used a lot
against depression, among other things
it's something that is often found
is there room for weeds on the square?
the square is dangerous, I already fell once with my bike
it's been a while, I slid away
yes
with my front wheel and I was lying there
surely it is not the intention that plants grow here
I think the square has another purpose
because plants are allowed to grow but not on our square here
is my idea
about those plants, everyone has their own idea about that
if there is one thing that never happens here, it is maintenance
but the plants are burned away, which is a form of mainenance
if we talk about wildflowers
is there room for somewhere, a place for wildflowers?
because that's something else
since they have been working on concrete removal in our street
maybe there could be concrete removal here
and then there is also room for a real green area
are you ready?
everything in the air?
four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen
fifteen yeses I count
and the green, blue?
ah, sixteen!
yes, I'm Hilde De laet
I'm the principal of De Bel elementary school
that's a GO elementary school
so of course my dream is
we have a rather small playground
that the zocalo-square would be integrated into our school
yes, I do think that the square should be broken up
so that it is a cosy space
to sit together sometimes
and for the children to play
um, in the sense of, I also see sometimes children in other countries
are not locked up in a school either
that they can just use the public space as well
and I think about safety, that should not really be a problem
yes, I would like that very much
lowering the square, I don't know if that's possible
I don't see that as a problem immediately
yes, I think it should remain a square that is accessible and usable for everyone
that nothing should be put up to it, not for kids only or for elderly people only or for teenagers only
and about the removal of the concrete
something I think we should know
is that underneath there is a drainage that collects all the rainwater that falls here
in a large tank of 30000 liters
and the possibilities to use this water that is stored here
which are no longer there because they broke down the pumps because they no longer worked properly
and they cut the pipes
so all of that is gone
I am not saying that nothing should be done to the square
something has to be done
but there are possibilities
and the possibilities that are there should be used, I think
there are plenty of opportunities
there are a lot of smart people, smart designers
who can design this school, this space here
that it is safe for the children and still allow other people in
yes, my intention was
there is absolutely no place here where youngsters can hang around
I wonder, if there is a demand for a playground for children
um here on the square
why then your school playground isn't being opened to the public?
for filth, to pick it up
you should come and see what garbage there is here around
I have no intention of doing that every Monday morning
ok, that's clear
what I wonder is
people are turning Muizen into the center of youth
what about elderly people?
we don't have meeting places anymore either
everything is about the youth
green areas everywhere, playgrounds everywhere, what about the older people?
we have no stores, we have nothing anymore
twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen
nineteen definite yeses
fifteen definite no's
and the in-betweens
so cool and if you think about the square
if you would change it?
they want soccer here too
that there would be a little goal like that and a basket ring above it
can there be a basket ring on the square?
is the question
if no one has a comment
there's something that I've picked up
that maybe we could talk about
is the thought of possibly providing a roof here
on the square
if the square doesn't change thoroughly, what little things can you do?
I would like another swing or a bar
or a playground
a bar? not a café-bar?
but a bar to play at?
yes
we would like a roof here
because, we always have to stand there
and we often meet here with friends
so it would be better to have a roof here
you can do what you want with the zocalo
but if the townhall is always closed
I think it should include that
our local police-person, we don't know when he's here
you have to request everything online
please, 1 or 2 times a week
even if it is half a day
place someone to be at the townhall
and possibly hang the opening hours on the door so that people know what is going on
yes, I do want to join
we don't have a service center
as they have in Mechelen
and that is a service up to and including
well, absolutely, thumbs-up for that
but we Muizenaars have nothing
and will there be parking spaces?
because everywhere here parking spaces are disappearing
but none are being added
we ride our bikes a lot
but we have to be able to park our car somewhere
yes, since there is a lot of water under here, I would
I do not know if you have been in the south of Italy, in all those villages
when you get there you have a little fountain there
it's always nice when you can sit around a fountain
because there is water underneath
as they say
maybe they can make a nice little fountain here
and put benches around it and so on
that would also be cozier
ok, that's a nice one to end with
yes
if you want to say something, the alderman was here to listen too
but maybe you also want to respond
Wilfried, next week those pumps will be checked
for I did not know that there were pumps here
and that those pipes were cut
you never told me that
but now I know
so those will definitely be looked at
I think we can certainly do a lot more with this square than we do now
given some limited or fundamental adjustments without destroying things
that are actually there now
and we are definitely going to work on that
maybe I also want to say
Freek, who is behind the music, they will
translate the votes into flags
so later in the day you will see lines of flags appearing in those colors
and you can kind of see how many yes and no votes there have been