What should have been a grand festival year for the 750 -year -old Oudenbosch, has turned out on a fiasco. The treasurer of the foundation that organizes the festivities that jubilee, appears to have darkened tens of thousands of euros. Community money with which events would be organized for all residents.
“We are very shocked and deeply disappointed,” says board member Mark Buijs. According to him, the treasurer was financially in the mess and he has therefore put the money in his own pocket. “We did not expect this and certainly not from this person who has experience with financial matters.”
The board came behind when suppliers rang the bell why bills were not paid. It soon became apparent that the treasurer had tampered.
Tens of thousands of euros darkened
The foundation is said to have received a 90,000 euro subsidy from the municipality for the festivities. Buijs does not want to say how much the treasurer has put in his own pocket. But according to him it is certainly about ‘a few tens of thousands of euros’.
According to Buijs, the fraud also has considerable consequences for the other festivities that were still on the schedule this year. For example, a final party is still planned for December. “We want to do everything we can to let the planned festivities continue as much as possible, but that may be in a spent form. There are fewer resources available, so that means that we can put less big names on stage.”
He calls on the community and entrepreneurs in Oudenbosch to help where they can. “Maybe they can be lenient with bills and what cancel. But I also understand that it will be complicated, because their bills must of course also be paid.”
Buijs calls it a big loss. “It is incredibly sour, because you experience such a special anniversary only once.”
The board filed a report against the treasurer on Tuesday.