Although the news may not be completely out of the blue, the blow is hard at the two farming families in Laaghalerveen. Defense wants to expand on their land. To grow from 400 to 700 hectares, two agricultural companies have to give way at Laaghalerveen. The land of other farmers can also be expropriated, as it is officially called. But what exactly does that mean?
The government cannot just claim your land. She must have a good reason for that. Expropriation must also serve a public interest. In this case that is the expansion of the training ground.
“Expropriation is the final phase,” explains Gerty Leeuwerik. She is on behalf of Makelaarsbedrijf Agriplaza as a steward, or mediator, involved in processes where expropriation is a possibility. This measure can be used if an entrepreneur has to make way for, for example, a road widening, cycle path, placement of wind turbines or therefore expansion of a military training ground.
Before expropriation is an option at all, a so -called amicable process is started. That is a negotiation between government and an entrepreneur or private individual. In many cases, both parties reach agreement during the negotiations. “They make custom agreements per individual,” says Leeuwerik.
It is common for the entrepreneur to be compensated. And if the company has to move, the government can, instead of compensation in euros, obtain a new location with land and buildings and make it available to compensation. An entrepreneur may not be affected in his capital position.
If this process breaks down, expropriation will only become an option. In that case, a judge decides whether the ground should be handed over. “But it is mandatory to first start such an amicable process,” emphasizes Leeuwerik. “You must also be able to submit a sound substantiation if it did not work.”
Leeuwerik knows it about colleagues and from his own experience. Expropriation is a process of years and has a lot of impact. A sense of powerlessness often dominates with afforders. She now sees it at a company that has to give way because of nature rules. “And They don’t want Losing surface because it is detrimental to the return of the company. “
“Expropriation is very drastic and is about many discs,” continues Leeuwerik. “You have to deal with the municipality, province and all kinds of rules. I now see people getting sick of stress and uncertainty.”
Due to the load that has been placed on the term ‘expropriation’, the measure has lost on unpopularity, Leeuwerik notes. That is partly due to the above -mentioned human aspect and because governments in the past sometimes work ‘energetically’. “They launched a plan and people were more or less for an accomplished fact. That can seem threatening.”
For the companies at Laaghalerveen, therefore, does not just follow expropriation. First, there will be mainly consultation and possibly agreement will be reached. Expropriation can eventually take years.