Writer Frank Westerman has been talking for about half an hour about Schoonebeek, the Dutch Petroleum Company (NAM) and his childhood as the child of a technical draftsman at the NAM when the presenter asks what he thinks needs to be done in the Northern Netherlands to to turn the tide. Then a woman in the audience stands up: “Why don’t you ask us that?”
About 150 people, from residents to administrators to politicians, will sit in the Kielzog theater in Hoogezand on Monday evening to discuss what needs to be done to improve the quality of life in the earthquake area. After the parliamentary inquiry into natural gas extraction in Groningen, the cabinet announced the package of measures last year Nij Begun a year-long improvement plan. The social agenda is part of this. For thirty years, 100 million euros per year will be available to improve social cohesion, health and opportunities for the next generation in Groningen and Northern Drenthe.
Former Member of Parliament Henk Nijboer (PvdA) is the quartermaster. He has been given four main themes by the cabinet: improving the quality of life, public health and education and combating poverty. In April, Nijboer will make recommendations for the first goals. Over the next two weeks he will organize three more evenings in Groningen where residents can share their ideas. During those evenings, Nijboer not only wants to let residents have their say, but also speakers who fit the topics. In Hoogezand, in addition to Westerman, this is also Jochen Mierau, professor of Public Health Economics at the University of Groningen.
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End poverty
Mary Ritsema (74) from North Drenthe does not appear there. She is the woman who stands up to start the conversation about residents’ wishes. She worked on her proposal all weekend. She printed it for Nijboer. When she gets the microphone, she says: “We have to talk about how we can ensure that we really benefit from that money. This is possible with a basic income. Let’s start with the young people. It could mean an end to poverty. We can set a good example and ensure that the people who have suffered so much damage finally get a better life. Away with the bullshit we’ve all had here. People really have ideas. But we are not asked about that.”
Loud applause follows.
Then the audience is loose. One after another comes up with plans. Make all children who want to join a sports club for free until they are eighteen, says a man from Kolham. Then you immediately have two goals: this way, children of parents who have less money to spend can also play sports. Give plenty of money to citizen initiatives, says a woman from Kloosterburen. Invest in culture, say several visitors.
No consultants
Don’t spend too much money on the organization, says a woman from North Drenthe. Professor Mierau thinks so too. “In Groningen we are very good at the fact that a new implementation organization is added with every plan. Maybe at the end of this process we can have one or two instead of dozens of organizations.”
Spending a lot of money on the organization is not going to happen, Nijboer swears. “I try to deal with it decently, because it is public money. Every thousand euros we spend on organization does not benefit the social agenda. We’re really not going to set it all up with consultants. That has always been my criticism in the House of Representatives.”
The fact that the evening mainly focuses on the problems in Groningen and North Drenthe bothers a visitor immensely. “Everyone is in the mood of: we are victims. Throw that overboard. I think that Groningen and North Drenthe may be the regions with the most potential. We have space, beautiful nature. I haven’t heard anything about that yet and I don’t understand it. Groningen is on the rise and I hope people will see that. The recognition and money we receive gives us a tailwind.”
Nijboer finds it hopeful that about 150 people have come to Hoogezand on their evening off to talk about the future. “It’s great that there are so many people involved who want to think along with us.” He hopes to stimulate a sense of pride in the province among residents. “That is one of the most important assignments and it is not so easy to carry out.”
No matter how great the plans for the future are, the concerns for now are still great, as becomes apparent when a man is given the floor. He says that every day when he starts work he first goes to the website of NAM, the company that extracts gas in Groningen. “Then I look under the seismology heading to see if there have been any earthquakes. It is still in my head and my family’s mind. I’ll just pass it along.”