Disbelief about the state of affairs at the Oranjedorp distribution center: ‘Nothing was listened to’

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The bottom stone must be raised and if mistakes have been made, consequences must be imposed. Various factions in the municipality of Emmen are shocked by Zembla’s podcast about the distribution center near Oranjedorp. They therefore want to sit down with the council as soon as possible. “If Zembla’s account of facts is correct, then serious mistakes have been made here,” says Joey Koops (D66).

The municipality of Emmen has approved the construction of a large distribution center near Oranjedorp, against all the rules. This is a piece of land that is a unique archaeological site. Because construction has now started, all mineral resources have been lost forever.

The municipality and project developer Solidiam mutually arranged that the archaeological finds did not have to be taken into account. This is evident according to the research programme Zembla from emails between that real estate developer and the municipality.

“It’s sad how this process went,” says Lex Stax from Oranjedorp. At the time, he was one of the local residents who objected to the enormous building near the houses. “It is astonishing that permits have been granted where things are not correct afterwards.”

Stax and other objectors raised the alarm with the objections committee last year. “We already pointed out that no archaeological research had been done.” The fact that the municipality relies on the assumption that nothing of value was expected in the soil is of no use to him. “Especially if you know how residents felt at the time. Everything was rolled over and nothing was listened to.”

Stax cannot yet say whether legal action is being considered. The news is still too fresh. He also wonders what’s the point. “The building is almost ready, it seems.”

He does hope that the municipality will submit to an investigation into the state of affairs and learn from it. “How can you ask people to adhere to the rules if the municipality itself does not do so? Confidence in Oranjedorp in politics was already low. And you now see that confirmed again. They really need to look in the mirror. “

The Hart voor Emmen faction is going in with all its legs. The party submitted a lot of questions to the municipality today. Party chairman Robart de Jong further calls for a construction stop and waves a motion of no confidence towards councilor René van der Weide. “So many alarm bells have gone off.”

De Jong points to the management regulation, which states that it is very likely that the soil may contain items of great archaeological value. “In that case, this will have consequences. Such as restrictions whereby excavations can only be carried out up to thirty centimeters.” The developer will then have to adjust his construction plan and will normally also bear the costs.

According to De Jong, it can be concluded from the requested Open Government Act documents that this was a private agreement between the developer and the municipality. For example, the responsible developer asked the municipality in 2022 for confirmation that the land will be delivered ‘ready for construction’ and that Emmen has ‘provided for archaeological release’.

In that case, responsibility for the archaeological investigation will fall to the municipality. Which has a price tag of two million euros. All in all, enough for a motion of no confidence, says De Jong.

Wim Moinat of the SP calls the course of events ‘insane’. “That this is just possible. How do you explain this, this cannot have been a slip-up.” He awaits the answers to the questions asked by Hart voor Emmen. First find out the how and why, says Moinat. “And if mistakes have been made, there must be consequences.”

The CDA also speaks of a serious matter. “The municipality has not followed the rules of the game and that is of course not possible,” said group leader Rene Wittendorp. “The bottom stone must be raised. If mistakes have been made, people must draw their conclusions from them.”

A mistake cannot remain without consequences, according to Joey Koops (D66). But he also doesn’t want to get ahead of the music. He therefore does not think this is a subject that can wait until the next council meeting. “I expect Hart voor Emmen to request an emergency meeting when the council has the answers ready. If Zembla’s account of facts is correct, then serious mistakes have been made here.”