Michael van de Kuit is responsible for the signs. owner of the former golf course in the area. Van de Kuit heard about dog Silla, who was allegedly poisoned in the Naarderbos last week, and took action.
“Dogs are said to have become ill in the area, there were a few articles about this in the news and on social media,” Van de Kuit tells NH. “The vet would have found that they had been poisoned.” The entrepreneur says that he approached the mayor about the news. According to him, he had little interest in dealing with the problem.
No control in the area
“It doesn’t do anything,” he says. “Who will warn the people walking there? We own most of the area. Now that there is no more golf course, there is no control and apparently waste has been dumped. I don’t want to think about what happens when other dogs or playing children come into contact with it.”
It was enough reason for the entrepreneur to take action and install the matrix boards. “I discussed with my operational manager whether to warn the public myself,” says Van de Kuit.
No ban on walking
The municipality of Gooise Meren was also surprised this morning by the arrival of the signs. A spokesperson told NH that they have instructed enforcement to remove the signs. “The content of the signs is incorrect,” she said. “There is no ban on walking dogs in the Naarderbos. The signs suggest that it is dangerous to walk dogs there because there is poison. This is not true.”
The municipality is aware of the sick dog. “The idea is that this is drug waste. The police have been asked to investigate further what the cause is,” the spokesperson said.
According to her, ‘there is no indication of systematic poisoning of animals or that it is dangerous to walk dogs in this area’. However, they would like to warn dog owners to ‘be vigilant’ when walking their four-legged friends in the forest.
‘Do not understand any of it’
From the Kuit, who has been at odds with the municipality for years, thinks that things are ‘going very wrong’. “I think you should warn people. It is such a large area and there are countless dogs. That is not allowed, but it is simply impossible to enforce it.”
And Van de Kuit does not have a good word to say about the instruction to enforcement to remove the matrix signs. “Nice then. The area is becoming unsafe and now dogs are also getting sick. And what does the municipality do? Take enforcement action by removing warning signs. I don’t understand that.”