The Council of State gives the green light for a renovation of the historic De Keet farm on Minister Cremerstraat in Zeijerveld. A neighbor’s objections have been rejected by the highest administrative court in the Netherlands.
The neighbor had wanted to renovate the building himself in the past, but would not have received permission from the municipality at the time. A few weeks ago, he asked the Council of State in The Hague to cancel the permit for the new owner of the building.
In 1908, De Keet Farm was the first building on the still wild Zeijerveld. The former Heidemaatschappij used the building to develop more than 600 hectares of land near Assen. In 2020, the new owner announced that he wanted to restore the farm to its former glory. He received a permit from the municipality of Assen to return the building to a residential function.
However, the neighbor fears that his agricultural business will be confronted with obstacles if De Keet is occupied. Then he would be allowed to make less noise with his machines. The Council of State finds this fear unfounded. She points out that the owner is obliged to properly insulate the facade of the building itself.
The new owner said at the hearing a few weeks ago that he ‘regrets’ the delay in his renovation plans. “A nice renovation farm, my girlfriend and I first thought.” However, he had to wait several years for the final green light.