Three Large Factories Closed in Eerbeek, the Netherlands' Paper Village: Is the Sector Dying Out?

The town of Eerbeek in the Gelderland province of the Netherlands is losing its historical presence in the paper industry as it goes through one of the most difficult economic processes of recent years. Last weekend, Folding Boxboard, a factory producing folded cardboard and one of the town's significant sources of employment, filed for bankruptcy. This bankruptcy went down on record as the latest and most painful link in a chain of closures that have deeply shaken the paper sector in the region. This development, which is a major blow to the local economy, has led to hundreds of workers becoming unemployed and the questioning of the town's corporate identity. These bankruptcy news, which created a shock effect in the business world, also brought along concerns about the future of Eerbeek's title of being called a 'paper village'.

The bankruptcy of Folding Boxboard is actually considered not as a new beginning of the problems experienced by paper production facilities in Eerbeek, but as the peak point of an ongoing collapse. Other important manufacturers in the region, paper mills named Coldenhove and De Hoop, had previously been forced to close their doors or stop production. The bankruptcy and closure processes experienced by these three large enterprises one after another have greatly weakened the industrial infrastructure of the town. The cessation of activities of these facilities, which provided employment to more than 500 people in total, had created a large-scale unemployment crisis and social unrest in the local community. This dark picture of the sector reveals that not only the buildings of the factories but also a production tradition spanning many years have disappeared.

Experts and economists list various reasons why these historical paper factories went bankrupt one after another; changes in global paper demand, pressures brought by digitalization, and rising energy costs are shown as the main factors. The constant increase in production costs and the decrease in international competitiveness particularly hit settlements like Eerbeek that focus on a specific sector. The collapse of rooted brands like Coldenhove and De Hoop constitutes a concrete example of how the balances in the market have changed and how vulnerable local producers are against external forces. The very low remaining capacity after Folding Boxboard reveals that the town is facing serious difficulties in keeping its industrial ecosystem alive. When the fluctuations in the market and the problems in raw material supply are analyzed in detail regarding how they eroded the financial structures of the companies, the severity of the situation is better understood.

Eerbeek has been called 'Papierdorp', meaning Paper Village, for many years, and this title was one of the cornerstones of the town's economic and social structure. The factories were not only workplaces but also institutions that shaped the town's identity, culture, and the collective memory of its residents. However, the closure of the three main factories at different times but sharing almost the same fate led to the questioning of this identity and increased uncertainties about the town's future. The decrease in employment opportunities based on paper production brings up the risk of the young population migrating to other regions and the disruption of the town's demographic structure. Discussions have been brought about whether the 'Papierdorp' title retains any brand value and the need for the town to chart a new route focused on tourism or industry. Local governments and civil society organizations state that they are struggling with what to put in place of these lost industrial giants.

In the coming period, Eerbeek's economic recovery and the creation of a new sector ecosystem constitute the biggest test for the region's administrators and the people. While it is becoming clear whether the town has lost its qualification of being a 'paper village' following these major losses in the paper sector, the current picture is quite dark. The empty buildings of the factories and their inactive chimneys reveal the contrast between the town's past prosperity and its current situation. The deepening energy crises and the decline of industrial production in Europe make it difficult for Eerbeek to renew itself with a different sub-sector. It is emphasized that in case new projects and moves that could attract the interest of investors and entrepreneurs are not made, the town risks falling into silence. The people of Eerbeek, while experiencing their longing for the past and their anxiety for the future, are looking for ways to raise their town back on its feet.