The municipality of Venray expects to be able to deliver the election results by Friday afternoon at the latest. Mayor Michiel Uitdehaag (D66) understands that “especially with the current neck-and-neck race” the results are eagerly awaited, but, he says: care and accuracy remain of the utmost importance.
Uitdehaag gave a press conference on Thursday afternoon in a dance and sports center opposite the town hall. It remained closed after a fire on the night of Wednesday to Thursday. Barrier tape has now been stretched all around, security guards are keeping watch.
A fire broke out during the counting of votes after a short circuit occurred in a meter cupboard
A fire broke out during the counting of votes after a short circuit occurred in a meter cupboard. The fire was reported to the emergency services at five to two. The emergency response team then evacuated sixty people.
The ballots were secured when the fire brigade gave the signal to be safe, so that they would not be damaged by, among other things, the fire extinguishing water. How to resume counting will be determined this Thursday in consultation with the Electoral Council.
Recount
There were scripts ready for evacuating people, but not for evacuating the voting forms. Uitdehaag: “That is such an exceptional situation, it was never thought of before.” According to the mayor, counting can start again, “but in these types of situations it must also be determined whether a recount is necessary.”
Earlier this year, the fire brigade had to respond to a leak at the town hall. It flooded the reception hall. Afterwards, water had to be collected regularly using, among other things, wheelie bins. The municipal budget for 2026 includes extra money for maintenance of the town hall. Uitdehaag considers it unlikely that leaks played a role in the fire. “The meter cupboard is not directly under the roof.”
Sisters
The Venrays town hall is located in a former monastery, which has been expanded and renovated several times since 1838. In 1973 the building was sold to the municipality. A major renovation was completed in 2024. It cost about 27 million euros.
During the 2021 and 2023 House of Representatives elections, the PVV won 12.77 and 27.91 percent of the votes respectively; D66 14.15 and 5.62 percent.
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