Stichting Het Pauperparadijs can breathe a sigh of relief. They are allowed to continue their series of performances on the grounds of the prison museum in Veenhuizen. Three families, who live right next to the site, objected to the permit issued by the municipality of Noordenveld. This was rejected by the court in Groningen.
For the third year, local residents are confronted with 55 performances a stone’s throw from their homes. They experience nuisance for three months. The noise nuisance was particularly central during the session on 22 June in Groningen. Shortly before that, the judge ordered a noise measurement. This shows that the noise standards are not exceeded and may be labeled as ‘some nuisance’.
But that ‘only nuisance’ lasts for three months. What is acceptable then, the local residents thought. But for now they have to make do with this. It is not possible for them to appeal. However, an objection procedure is still ongoing, of which a hearing will be held on July 4 at the town hall in Roden. It is still possible to put the other objections, in addition to noise nuisance, there. Also for the performances that will follow this year.
This will be decided in August at the earliest. By then most of the performances have already been. The municipality of Noordenveld has already granted a permit for the series of performances in 2024. The neighbors will also aim their arrows at this. They now have more time to, for example, have their own investigations carried out if they deem it necessary. During the court case in Groningen, they already indicated that they do not want to be weighed down by this spectacle year after year.
“In the most beautiful period of the year we cannot sit outside,” they told the judge earlier. In 2016 they experienced the first series of performances. Even then they sounded the alarm, but according to them then mayor Hans van der Laan made the promise that this would be for one year. Van der Laan was succeeded by Klaas Smid and the local residents are now indoors for the third time because of the performances during the summer.