Sabine Decnop (30), and her sons Jovani (8) and Levi-Jay (6), have to get by on 100 euros a week, but can’t manage it anymore. “Every Friday I receive money from my administrator and lately it’s usually almost gone by Tuesday afternoon.” That is why she is going to The Hague with other people from North Holland today, to draw attention to her problem during Prinsjesdag. “I’m really ready to show myself and dare to express what I stand for.”
Previously, the family managed ‘just fine with 80 euros a week’, but now the single mother can no longer manage with 100 euros.
Inflation in the Netherlands has risen sharply in recent months. Sabine buys the basic necessities with the money. To save on her energy and gas bill, she takes cold showers herself and also cleans with cold water. The stove will remain off for the time being.
The perseverants: these North Hollanders can’t make it anymore
Inflation is rising to great heights and energy is almost unaffordable. Many North Hollanders can barely keep their heads above water, for many others it is becoming increasingly difficult. Big problems that affect everyday people. We call them: the perseverants. NH Nieuws will go to The Hague with this group of people on Tuesday, on Prinsjesdag. So that we can share these harrowing stories with national politicians.
Get to know our perseverants and their stories. You can find all their stories on this page.
In the past, Sabine got into financial trouble because she looked away from the blue letters after losing her job as a security guard. In the end, she still called, because she was starting to worry about her children.
“Of course you feel ashamed and you feel like a huge failure if you can’t take good care of your children.” Nevertheless, Sabine hopes with her story to convince other families who are having a hard time that things can be done differently, which is why she is going to The Hague today. “I hope through my openness and by putting aside my shame that I can inspire others. Because there is more help around you than you dare to think. You are not alone.”
Read Sabine’s whole story here
And Sabine has noticed that in recent weeks, when she shared her story. “I have had help from very nice people. All reactions on social media were very positive! And people recognize themselves in it and dared to come out for it. I am very grateful to those people.”
In The Hague she hopes that politicians will pay attention to her story. “I hope they want to understand that it can’t go on like this.” She believes that her story does not stand alone, but stands for many other North Hollanders who have run into problems due to the rising prices and who may be even worse off than her.
“I hope they want to understand that it can’t go on like this”
Yesterday it was announced that the cabinet, together with large energy companies, will take measures to keep energy bills low. “I don’t believe it, there have been too many lies,” Sabine responds.
“An amount will be released, but they don’t know where they get it from yet. That sounds strange.” It all still feels very insecure for Sabine, she is afraid that it will eventually end up on the plate of the citizen again. “They pretend to support the citizens, it sounds like a bad fairy tale.”
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