Holiday park operator Peter Gillis has launched an urgent appeal proceeding to halt a court-sanctioned auction of three of his properties scheduled for Thursday, according to statements made by his lawyer to broadcaster Omroep Brabant on Tuesday evening. The legal challenge comes after a Den Bosch court ruled that Prinsenmeer in Ommel, Brugse Heide in Valkenswaard, and Stadsresort Valkenburg would proceed to a forced sale following an escalating debt dispute with entrepreneur Marc van Rooi.
Urgent Appeal Hearing Scheduled Before Auction
Gillis’s legal team filed a rapid appeal procedure known as a “turbospoedappèl,” which allows the court to handle a case on an extremely expedited timeline. The court scheduled the appeal hearing for Wednesday afternoon. According to Gillis’s statements reported by Omroep Brabant, the appellate court granted the hearing date due to the imminent auction schedule and the financial magnitude of the dispute. The forced public auction is slated to begin at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, leaving the court a narrow window to deliver a decision.
Escalating Debt and Stopped Payments
The forced auction stems from unpaid debts owed by Gillis to fellow entrepreneur Marc van Rooi. Gillis initially borrowed ruim 20 miljoen euro, but that financial obligation has since climbed to over 27 miljoen euro. Financial strains deepened in January 2025, when the holiday park operator stopped making payments on the debt entirely. While Gillis acknowledges the legal basis for the forced sale of his three properties, his legal strategy focuses on halting the execution because he argues the official valuation of the parks—particularly Prinsenmeer—is set far too low.
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