Shopkeepers in Haren have tackled the clutter of their shopping center. The problem has been resolved. Why then this new advertising tax?
“Because the municipality of Groningen needs money,” says an employee of a fashion store in the shopping center of Haren. “If they hadn’t made this up, you would have had to pay for it somewhere else. After all, the center is in excellent condition.”
The Mayor and Aldermen want to reclaim public space throughout the municipality from entrepreneurs who are taking too much of it. Anyone who advertises more than one square meter on and near the facade in 2025 will have to pay for it. The municipality hopes to raise several hundred thousand euros after deducting the costs for official control and implementation measures.
No one, as it turns out after a round of Haren on Saturday, thinks that the center is in a bad state. Shopping in the village is satisfactory. “It looks neat here. Very different from the city center of Groningen,” says a resident of Haren who looks around and jumps back on his bike. “That’s what you get when you’re swallowed up by the city. Then you get the problems there,” he continues.
Street signs in line
There are mega flower pots on the Brinkhorst in the center of Haren. Benches have been placed in numerous places in the shopping streets. It is striking that the same sidewalk signs are located on the sidewalks at a short distance from each other throughout the center. Shopkeepers then advertise their goods in A1 format. “That happened in consultation with the municipality of Groningen,” says center manager Daphne de Haan. “We even received these sidewalk signs from the municipality.”
That happened two years ago when the new advertising bill was on the table. “We spoke to our supporters about the advertisements. It was about large flags and all kinds of signs where we wanted to bring more unity.” The environment was tidied up. De Haan wonders whether entrepreneurs now suddenly have to pay for placards they received from the municipality. “Does the municipality want to ensure that they are removed?”
Clutter has already been addressed
According to chairman Henk Broekema of the Haren Business Association, this is sad. “Especially because this village is an example of good cooperation between the municipality and entrepreneurs. The cluttering of the center has already been tackled here. Haren proves that you do not have to levy advertising tax to ensure that it is neat.” Broekema finds the timing of the introduction very unfortunate. “Too many entrepreneurs are in bad shape. The water is up to their lips. We also expect increasing vacancy rates in Haren.”
Too much city thinking
Councilor Leendert van der Laan of the opposition Party for the North hopes that the council will retrace its steps. “Another tax. As if the tax burden in Groningen isn’t already high enough. The coalition parties are guilty of urban thinking. Not everything you want in the city can be projected onto a village.”
According to Van der Laan, the municipality is unnecessarily antagonizing many people. “Entrepreneurs already have so much on their plate. But others don’t understand it either. Regardless of the money, there will be new rules. That is very frustrating. I checked it out. How many people in the coalition parties have a background as real entrepreneurs? No, if I were them I wouldn’t be proud of this.”
Broekema, who also addressed the city council at City Hall on Wednesday, has only one message: advertising tax? Don’t start it. “Tackling the clutter in the city. Look at (shared) bicycles and (shared) scooters lying around. There are regulations and permits for advertising. If you want something, you have to change it and not create new taxes. Congregation, what are you doing?