Former State Secretary Mona Keijzer to Mediate in Canal Work Damage Case

Former State Secretary Mona Keijzer will mediate between the province of Overijssel and residents of the Almelo-De Haandrik canal. The canal was dredged between 2011 and 2016 so that larger ships can also use it. Soon after the work, the first reports of damage to homes came.

About 400 households have suffered damage to their homes since the work was carried out. A number of houses became uninhabitable, many houses are propped up.

A motion from the BBB to hire Mona Keijzer was passed unanimously in the provincial government. And that was received with applause in the public gallery, where dozens of victims were seated, reports RTV East.

The province has had several investigations carried out into the cause of the damage to the homes. Research by knowledge institute Deltares from 2021 showed that there are several causes of the subsidence. The peat soil under the foundations of the houses also plays a role in this. Nevertheless, the province of Overijssel acknowledged that the work contributed to the problems.

The province has set up a claims settlement, but some of the residents feel the same deserted. They have reached a stalemate with the province about the settlement of claims.

The idea to appoint a mediator comes from BBB leader Caroline van der Plas. She recently visited the disaster area and spoke to several affected residents.

Mona Keijzer was State Secretary for Economic Affairs and Climate Policy from 2017 to 2021. She was fired after critical statements about the corona policy pursued at the time. Since then she has her own consultancy firm.