In addition to having the key to the farm, the province of Noord-Brabant, as owner, also simply has a key in a cupboard in the provincial house in Den Bosch. She knows that the province has bought the farm, but she has not seen much of Noord-Brabant. “I think someone from the province came here once.”
With all the nitrogen that is released elsewhere in the country due to the closure of the farms, Noord-Brabant creates space to compensate for the nitrogen emissions for the construction of the industrial estate.
There has been a lot to do about that. When it became known that Noord-Brabant had bought a farm near Ruinerwold, the province of Drenthe was not happy. “I think it’s uncollegial, from province to province, and inappropriate. The problem is not that it happens, but that we didn’t know,” said provincial administrator Henk Jumelet at the time.
Agricultural organization LTO warned of chaos by buying up nitrogen space. The agricultural organization expected that other provinces would adopt this method from Noord-Brabant. The province of Drenthe says it does not and has not bought any farms outside the province. Noord-Brabant has also apologized to the province for the course of events, but the sale went through.
“After all permits have been revoked and no animals may be kept commercially, the location will be put up for sale,” Ronnes says about the fate of the farm. “In consultation with the future owner, it will be examined whether the stables can be reused for other types of activities.” This means activities other than the commercial keeping of animals.
“If that is not the case, stables will be demolished. The province of Noord-Brabant will then take care of the demolition of stables, including the costs thereof. The province naturally wants to leave the location behind.”