According to mayor Jan Hamming, it can ‘never be the intention’ that residents no longer want to organize free markets and that is why he will indicate to the government that this is ‘an undesirable outcome of the law’. Hamming: “King’s Day should be a party for everyone, especially for children who want to sit on rugs to sell stuff.”
All the bureaucracy has taken the fun out of it for Michel Schermer. “You are responsible if something happens, so everything has to be boarded up nowadays,” he explains to NH earlier. Michel has therefore decided not to organize the free market this year.
Liability
Safety is very important to the Wormerveer. It has happened that someone drove into the flea market with a car. That is why he tapes off the signs in advance and erects fences. This was previously possible without fanfare, but he has recently had to apply for a permit and carry it out through official channels. This is due to a new law, which has been in place since 2021. Organizers are then liable for any accidents.
It provides extra responsibility for the Wormerveer. “For the same thing, something happens to a child,” explains Michel. In addition, all the hassle related to the permit application takes a lot of time and that is why he is throwing in the towel this year. The mayor regrets that the organized free market is canceled by law.
Not the intention
Hamming: “The municipality mainly wants to make it possible. King’s Day should be a party for everyone, especially for children who want to sit on rugs to sell things. That the Management and Supervision of Legal Entities Act (WBTR) now ensures that initiators no longer organize activities wanting to do business can of course never be the intention.”
The mayor therefore entered into talks with Michel. He does not want to organize anything in the short term, but is happy that there are opportunities for next year. “It has caused a lot,” Michel says about his words to NH earlier. “I hope they can do something, that it can go ahead.”
For this year, the mayor will close the barriers. This way, Wormerveer residents can safely sell their belongings. Whether the mayor’s words will have any effect on the government remains to be seen later. “We will work hard to see how we can make things possible for these types of people,” said Hamming. The mayor continues: “Precisely because this gives color to Zaanstad and in this case to King’s Day.”