The Dudok building on the Turfsingel in the city center of Groningen contains the carcinogenic substance Chromium-6. This can be read on the yellow tape around the building.
The building that used to house the gas station shop is wrapped in white plastic. A company is busy removing the substance from the building. Chromium-6 is sometimes found in paint because it works well against rust, but if it is inhaled it is carcinogenic. This can happen, for example, if the paint is sanded off.
National monument
In 1953, the Amsterdam architect Willem Dudok designed the building for Esso. A total of 112 were installed throughout the Netherlands. The gas station in Groningen was in use until 2018. Then Gulf left the city center of Groningen and the building became empty.
The municipality decided to renovate the national monument and the area around it. Total costs: more than four million euros. In January this year, the councilors of the municipality received a letter from the municipal council. It warned that the project could become more expensive. According to the board, this is due to setbacks during the renovation of the outdoor area.
Afraid of a new letter
VVD faction leader Ietje Jacobs-Setz is indignant about the high costs of the renovation. If it had been up to her, the building would have been demolished long ago. “This will become the most expensive part of the Netherlands.” She is surprised that there is also Chromium-6 in the building. “I hadn’t heard of that yet. Who knows, we might get another letter soon.”
Coffee shop in six months
If everything goes according to plan, the renovation of the building will be completed this summer. Then entrepreneur Harmen Riemer (39) opens Van Deeg Nooit, a bakery where you can also drink coffee. He does this together with Koffiestation, a Groningen coffee roasting company of which he is co-owner.
“We’re starting with a place where you can pick up. The area around the building will also be ready in the spring of 2025 and then we will really open.”