Welcome to Holland Village
a replica of Gouda and Hoorn in the Netherlands, was inaugurated in 1983. It was developed by Yoshikuni Kamichika, who later established another Dutch-inspired park nearby known as Huis Ten Bosch, in 1992 which became more successful and still thrives today. The park spans 16.5 hectares and also includes Mansions that belonged to the owner who would live on the property. His backyard was basically the theme park he owned as well!
holland village initially achieved significant success due to the asset bubble economy in Japan, leading to an increase in domestic travel and tourism spending. At its zenith in 1990, the park attracted nearly 2 million visitors annually, but by 2000, the annual visitors dwindled to 219,000. The park was shut down in 2001. In 2003, Saikai City purchased the property and reopened it in 2005 as Cas Village, a restaurant hotspot, after spending about 1.5 billion Yen on renovations. However, the venue was forced to close six months later due to the operator's bankruptcy. Over the years, many park buildings have suffered termite damage and are currently not leaseable.
In 2016, the present operator entered into a contract with Saikai City, the property's owner, to rent a small portion of the park and buildings at no cost for a decade. The city invested 400 million Yen on exterior refurbishments, while the operator contributed 150 million Yen for interior improvements and infrastructure development. In 2021, safety issues were identified with the waterfront's wooden deck, yet again leading to a temporary shutdown of the park.
The park, once a beacon of cultural exchange and domestic tourism, is now a ghost town, its deserted pathways and vacant buildings leave a reminder of a time when it was a bustling hub of activity. Despite the city's and various operators' attempts to revive it, Holland Village remains a relic of the past, its future uncertain, its present a stark contrast to its vibrant past.
■ SHOP MY CLOTHING LINE frdmxwndr.com
■ FOLLOW ME
Instagram / steveronin
TikTok / stevexronin
Twitter / steveronin_
Facebook / steveroninofficial
■ FAN MAIL ADDRESS
PO BOX 609
Norfolk, Massachusetts
02056
■ For Business Inquiries/Sponsorships contact me exploringwithsteve@gmail.com
■ My Assistant Video Editor @SmoothieOperative
#Abandoned #Exploration #Steveronin