The renovation of the Binnenhof has been delayed and will take at least two years longer than planned. Due to rules regarding nitrogen emissions and higher safety requirements, the expected completion date will be December 2028 at the earliest, according to a progress report from the Central Government Real Estate Agency published on Monday.
The renovation was initially budgeted at 475 million euros, with 243 million euros added in 2021. Since then, another 31.9 million euros has been added: the project will cost at least 749.9 million euros.
Battle of the arm
The new end date of the renovation is presented with a blow to the arm. “In the current context, there are too many uncertainties to set a definitive date now,” the report says. It may therefore take even longer before the renovation work is completed. For the renovation of the Ministry of General Affairs, with the Prime Minister’s Tower, 2028 does not seem feasible anyway. That building is the only one still open on the Binnenhof, and is not expected to be closed until the summer of 2024. The “starting point” is that the ministry would return after 5.5 years – so that would not be until 2030.
Read also: Saying goodbye to Binnenhof still hurts
Nitrogen
The Central Government Real Estate Agency cites a number of reasons for the delay. One of these is the ‘space’ for nitrogen emissions. The main technical installation, which must provide the Binnenhof residents with electricity, among other things, will take up much more space than expected. The excavation work involved emits a lot of nitrogen. The result: other activities that also emit a lot of emissions have to wait until the technical installation is ready.
Attempts have also been made to reduce nitrogen emissions by ‘maximizing the use of electrical equipment’. But that is not possible, for some activities there are no fully fledged electrical alternatives available. This concerns, for example, machines that can dig close to the monumental facade of the building.
The Central Government Real Estate Agency also anticipates “further delays in the permit process” and “new unexpected outcomes of investigations.” And then there are market conditions that can be disappointing and the renovation can be faced with a lack of personnel or equipment.
Ceilings fell down
It was decided to renovate the Binnenhof in the autumn of 2015 because the buildings were in a terrible state. It leaked, it creaked, ceilings fell down. In addition, the building was not fireproof and did not meet legal requirements.
The progress report of the Central Government Real Estate Agency shows that the situation is even worse than expected. Both the cellars of the Senate and those under the House of Representatives are not watertight. And there appears to be more asbestos in the Senate than previously thought.
There is also good news. Historic ceilings were discovered when system ceilings were dismantled in the House of Representatives. We are still looking at what will be done with it.
Also view this photo series: The Binnenhof is rotting, leaking and moldy