Professor Tom Postmes, who spent years researching the social and psychological consequences of the earthquakes at the University of Groningen, says that in 2016 he was intimidated by an employee of the National Coordinator Groningen (NCG). That was not just anyone, but former VVD spin doctor Henri Kruithof, who worked as an advisor for the NCG in The Hague. Postmes had come to The Hague to discuss the results of his research into the psychological well-being of the people of Groningen before it was made public.
The conversation was about the physical safety of buildings in Groningen and the safety as experienced by people. According to Postmes, “around 50 percent” of Groningen residents feel unsafe. Many people have health problems as a result. “I got the impression that I was supposed to write the results differently,” he told the committee of inquiry. According to Postmes, Kruithof wanted him to write that safety was something completely different than what was ‘between the ears’ of the Groningers.
Kruithof behaved “physically intimidating”, Postmes stated under oath on Friday during his interrogation by the parliamentary committee of inquiry investigating gas extraction in Groningen. “He stood over me like a monkey and said: You must know one thing very well. Groningen is safe.” Postmes says that he sharpened his text slightly, but did not change it substantially. He informed Kruithof afterwards by email that he was not pleased with this treatment and also complained to the then NCG, Hans Alders.
Kruithof says, when asked for a response, that he can no longer remember the incident. “It’s been six years.” He remembers that he once met Postmes, but “I don’t remember that meeting as very shocking”.
Postmes has since stopped the research, he felt powerless and frustrated because little was done with the results. He proposes an ‘integrated approach’ in which people are asked door to door: what happened here? So that a tailor-made approach can be devised that also improves the psychological well-being of the people of Groningen.
Also read: Stress and gloom due to earthquake damage in Groningen
This article is also part of our live blog: Researcher Tom Postmes: intimidated by NCG advisor Henri Kruithof