The book Oh, oh, oh, it had to be told is the one-sided account of a man who was worn down by the municipality of Groningen. He spent half his life fighting for just compensation for the forced relocation of his company Simmeren Schroot.
Anyone who takes the time to read former director Bernard van der Leij’s book will experience one surprise after another. How is it possible that the municipality of Groningen, with all the administrative and legal firepower it has, wanted to fight a family business rooted in its own city for forty years?
That she derailed a negotiation about compensation and resulted in a prestige battle. Successive councilors who carried the conflict with them no longer looked for solutions and left everything to their lawyers. They hid behind administrative decisions and hoped that the family would give up the business at some point. That seems to be the case in 2024.
The judge who assessed all those years whether the municipality had taken the necessary administrative steps had an eye for the interests of the municipality. The amount of compensation was fodder for lawyers who chewed the case to the bone. Simmeren was left behind.
Even now that the Simmeren family has fought its battles and the municipality seems to be the big winner, this case deserves attention. The municipality is not a winner. In such a war of attrition there are only losers. Anyone who is prepared to spare no expense with taxpayers’ money should explain what was at stake. What justified this unequal struggle that lasted for forty years and caused not only material damage but also health damage to the Simmeren family?
The way in which the city council received the book and welcomed the Simmeren family on Wednesday evening was hopeful and heart-warming. Various council members from different parties showed empathy and are considering reflecting on a case that deserves it. Take a closer look at the administrative actions and the entire handling and there is a lot to learn from it. This is an opportunity for the municipality of Groningen to do something about this administrative disgrace.