Roggel is an entrepreneur. And you can see that in many different ways.
Alderman , Michel Graef, and account manager Michiel Boers recently visited Roggel at the invitation of Roggel Onderneemt. Together with chairwoman Caroline Bongers Hekking, we visited four very different businesses. The goal: to get to know them, listen to their stories, and see firsthand what’s going on with entrepreneurs in the village and the surrounding area.
We started at Bussl Gym, where we met Yvonne van Bussel. She’s an enthusiastic and driven entrepreneur who is pursuing her dream and, through her gym, demonstrates just how much energy and ambition there is in local entrepreneurship. At Slagerij Brunen, we saw a passion for the butcher’s trade. Faas Brunen’s business has been around for 100 years. But how d Health e ensure that such a traditional business will continue to exist in the future and that this craftsmanship is preserved for Roggel?
We were then warmly welcomed at Business Centrum Leudal by Hay Berden and Lisa Roumen. There are about 25 small business owners based here. BCL is a local hub where knowledge, connections, and ideas come together. At the same time, there are questions about the future of this place, partly due to the new construction plans.
At Van Nieuwenhoven Dairy and Poultry, we got a glimpse into an impressive agricultural operation, with about 35,000 chickens and 200 cows. Father Peter and son Juul have automated many processes, with a strong focus on quality. Here, too, questions about the future and the scope for entrepreneurship in rural areas are a key concern.
Versatility, but also concerns
These visits demonstrate just how diverse entrepreneurship is in Roggel. But they also make it clear that entrepreneurs are not isolated from their surroundings. Changes to the town center, plans for the village’s future layout, and challenges in the outlying areas directly or indirectly affect the business climate. And that is precisely where Roggel Onderneemt plays an important role—by bringing entrepreneurs together, gathering feedback, and fostering open discussion on issues that matter to the village. As a business association, it serves as a vital link between entrepreneurs and the municipality.
For me, these are valuable opportunities not only to talk about entrepreneurs, but above all to talk with them. To hear where opportunities lie, what concerns they have, and what it will take to keep Roggel a vibrant and livable community in the future.
Thank you to Caroline Bongers Hekking, Roggel Onderneemt, and the entrepreneurs we visited for their organization, hospitality, and open conversations. It is precisely by reaching out to one another that we make progress.