A woman from Zegge has not mowed the grass in her front garden for years and she allows her driveway to become overgrown. There is even a tree growing in front of her garage door. She sees the weeds as living creatures that you should not kill. But the housing association received complaints from the neighbors and went to court.
An ordinary street in Zegge. Some gardens are plain, with lots of gravel and tiles and a stray tree. Others still have colorful autumn flowers. And there is one overgrown garden with tall grass, large shrubs and starting trees.
Very modern, because it is good for biodiversity and rainwater can slowly sink into the ground. Municipalities encourage something like this under the slogan: rocking tiles. In this case, only the resident is enthusiastic.
Because the front yard may be lush, but the driveway is overgrown. There is a sapling sticking out of the green path. The path to the front door is barely passable.
Landlord is Home Owner. They believe it is necessary to prune and mow here. “We are only concerned with compliance with garden maintenance,” Thuisvester’s lawyer emphasizes. “We have tried for a very long time to do this in good consultation. Now no contact is possible anymore.”
That is why Thuisvester filed a lawsuit. He appeared before the subdistrict court in Bergen op Zoom on Wednesday. With a stack of garden photos from the day before as proof.
‘Murderer’
Thuisvester states in the court documents that the neglect dates back to early 2021. Letters and emails to the resident remained unanswered. The resident sent a pruning team away in 2022. Neighbors started complaining about the deterioration of their living enjoyment. When neighbors worked in the garden they were reportedly called a ‘murderer’ by the woman.
The resident’s lawyer explains that it is something of principle. “Madam sees weeds as living beings. She sees mowing and weeding as murder of living beings.” According to the lawyer, the plants on her property fall under her protection.
Her lawyer cites scientific research on nature and diversity. “There is a growing understanding in society about weeds. The lady has ethical objections about, in her view, the removal of living beings.”
She does not know the word weed and speaks of her ‘sidewalk plants’. “Sidewalk plants are a source of insects, just like we go to the chip shop.”
According to the lawyer, the resident suffers from a lot of stress due to all the hassle. “The consequences of a negative decision can be disastrous. This has an impact on her psychological and physical condition. She now numbs herself with alcohol.”
A woman’s assistant sits at the back of the room. She confirms that things are going badly. The woman no longer leaves her house. The tensions can become too much for her. Rapture is imminent.
Rats
Her lawyer argues that she cannot possibly be obliged to participate ‘in the murder of living beings’. Thuisvester continues to emphasize that they are not concerned with eviction, but only with a tidy front garden.
The woman suddenly intervenes. “You’re lying,” she says. “I wrote something.” But she falls silent. “I can’t read that because I’m slightly tipsy.” The judge also allows her to tell it from memory.
Birds
“Rats don’t come to a front yard, they come to food scraps. The only thing that comes to them is all kinds of birds that I have seen. I just think that every creature on this planet has the right to live. Without flowers and insects, man would have disappeared. If this is a crime is, I am a criminal, but many criminals are also acquitted.”
The judge shows understanding. “You are an advocate for nature, which is important.” He asks both parties to find a solution together. In the hallway. He’ll wait a while.
But that fails. “Madam is so principled,” says her lawyer. And then the judge decides to think about it and make a ruling in a few weeks.