The first week of 2024 is over. What kept Drenthe busy in the first days of the new year?
New Year’s Day was partly picking up the pieces. New Year’s Eve in the Netherlands was quite noisy, although according to the police there were ‘no major disturbances’ in Drenthe. Police officers were pelted with fireworks in Assen and Eelde.
Six flocks of sheep in Drenthe will receive financial compensation. Due to low wool prices, bluetongue and wolf attacks, there have been better times for sheep farmers. To support them, the Dinamo Fund, which promotes animal welfare and the protection of nature and landscape, is allocating almost 30,000 euros.
It had already been agreed that King Willem-Alexander would come to Emmen. But the fact that he will visit Meppel was a secret until this week. The port of Meppel forms the setting for his visit, which is scheduled for Wednesday, January 17. Willem-Alexander will visit several companies in the port.
Rain, rain and more rain. This week too, the drops pattered against the window and the streams, canals and rivers filled up. These are therefore busy times for the water boards. The Zedemuden pumping station in Zwartsluis is running at full capacity, mainly to keep Meppel out of trouble.
The recently established Drenthe Wijs met Wolven foundation is taking up the legal battle against the wolf. The foundation wants to gain more clarity about what is and is not allowed when it comes to the predator.
The foundation emphasizes that it is not for or against wolves. “Wolves are there and that has consequences. We need to have a good conversation about the consequences and what we should and can do about them,” says chairman Wim Hennink, who is himself a hobby horse owner in Wapserveen.
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