The 1,100 residents of Moerdijk have to look for another place to live. The city council approved this with an overwhelming majority on Wednesday evening. The plan received 19 votes in favor and 3 votes against. The national government, province and municipality will make a joint decision on December 1.
“A difficult and painful decision,” Mayor Aart-Jan Moerkerke addressed the council members after the vote. “I know from you that the decision-making process also affects you as council members.”
The municipality investigated alternatives for years, but came to the conclusion that the village of Moerdijk must disappear to make room for the Powerport project in ten years’ time.
What kind of industry will be added in Moerdijk?
With the approval of the plan, 450 hectares have been found for energy infrastructure, growth and sustainability. The Moerdijk area will then become an important hub in the energy transition. For example, there will be a new power station where energy generated by wind turbines at sea is connected to the power grid on land. This electricity is needed for homes and businesses and should make the Netherlands less dependent on foreign countries.
On December 1, the national government, province and municipality will jointly make a decision in principle about the preferred direction, the associated preconditions and the matters that need to be further elaborated.
You can read all the stories about it here the disappearance of the village of Moerdijk.