In extreme cases, the Rammstein concerts on July 6 and 7 in the Stadspark in Groningen will not take place. The Nature Conservation Watch Foundation is taking legal action because, to its surprise, the municipality has granted a one-off exemption for raising the noise level to 103 decibels. Disgraceful and dangerous, says secretary Geert Starre. “Due to the arrangement of the loudspeakers, visitors will suffer hearing damage even with earplugs.”
Sebastian Quekel 3 Jul. 2023 Last update: 17:44
Normally, according to the zoning plan, the noise in Groningen should not be louder than 100 decibels, but the council makes an exception because Rammstein had said that otherwise they would move to another location. “Many international acts, including Rammstein, need 103 decibels for their show. Many other cities also use this standard. When bringing top acts to Groningen, there is great competition between large locations,” said alderman Manouska Molema about the decision. “We have opted for large-scale events in the Stadspark. If you have more people on the field, different noise standards are required.”
Natuurbeschermingswacht, a foundation that often achieves success with similar procedures, finds this incomprehensible. There are dozens of bird species in the area around the Stadspark. They will all be knocked out of their place soon,” says Starre. Visitors are also at great risk. “We had an expert look at it and he came to a disturbing conclusion. The sound does not increase by 3, but by 13 decibels. This has to do with the layout of the area, and the way in which the loudspeakers will be placed. Even with earplugs, everyone there will soon suffer acute hearing damage.” Starre expects a hearing to take place on Tuesday or Wednesday.
The Nature Conservation Watch has previously succeeded in canceling events due to possible nuisance to the environment. That resulted in death threats for Starre. In September last year, the foundation won a major lawsuit against the province of Drenthe about a biomass power plant that would be operating without a permit. For example, after 75 years, the Nature Conservation Watch ‘is still not daunted’, says Starre.
Earplugs!
Weather agency Weeronline states that residents of Groningen can mainly be bothered by noise nuisance on Thursdays. There is then a southwest wind, which can ensure that the sound from the City Park can be heard in large parts of the city. On Friday the wind will turn more towards the southeast, making the music less audible in large parts of Groningen.
Raising the noise standard should give Rammstein visitors an extra reason to bring earplugs to the site. However, those earplugs should have been ready with them, says Saskia Kloet of the Security NL knowledge center. “Even at a maximum noise level of 100 decibels, it is important to protect your ears. Not only the band produces sound, also the large audience present will not be silent. At times, the noise level will really be higher than the maximum allowed.”
The one-off increase in the decibel standard raises many questions among experts. “Groningen pushes the boundaries and stirs up the discussion,” says the royally decorated audiologist Jan de Laat. Erik Roelofsen of the Noise Nuisance Foundation thinks mainly of local residents. “There, 100 or 103 on the field really makes a difference. You could achieve a lot of noise reduction with extra measures on the site. Think of higher noise barriers and technical adjustments to the music installation that the visitor on the site does not notice, but the environment does.”
Audiologist Dyon Scheijen sees Rammstein’s exceptional position mainly as a ‘nice publicity stunt’. “But it is not in line with what we want to bet on. It is about raising awareness of the impact of hearing complaints in general. From hearing loss to hyperacusis, tinnitus and hypersensitivity to external sounds as a result.” Patient organization Hoormij believes that the municipality is guilty of ‘rude’ policy.
Not only the band produces sound, also the large audience present will not be silent
Saskia Kloet, knowledge center Security NL
Hearing damage
In a series of stories in this newspaper last year, doctors warned of an increase in hearing damage among young people. It sparked a nationwide riot. State Secretary Maarten van Ooijen (Public Health) wants to take various measures to reduce hearing damage, but he thinks it is going too far to oblige catering managers and concert organizers to do something about the noise, he announced on Wednesday. What will Van Ooijen do? Stimulating the sale of earplugs in catering establishments, expanding the covenant with several partners, detecting hearing damage in children more structurally and having the quality of headphones tested by the NVWA.
Last autumn, the Health Council recommended setting a limit of 100 decibels for amplified music in order to limit hearing damage in young people. There is currently no legal maximum, but there is a non-binding agreement not to exceed 103 decibels. A difference of 3 decibels seems little, but in the music world this means a halving of the sound.
In practice, according to State Secretary Van Ooijen, amplified music is in most cases already softer than that upper limit. A legal maximum can ‘lead to unworkable situations’, the minister fears. For example, cheers and applause can inadvertently push the sound above the limit.
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110,000 visitors
A total of 110,000 people come to Rammstein’s two concerts. These are the first shows of the German group on Dutch soil since the allegations of sexual misconduct towards frontman Till Lindemann. Several women were allegedly drugged or had sex against their will.
The municipality of Groningen does not want to respond to the legal procedure of Natuurbeschermingswacht and refers to the court. A spokesperson confirms that a petition has been received. Further details are expected soon. The association Stadspark Natural also previously indicated that it would object, but in what form is still unclear.
© EPA
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2023-07-03 15:12:07
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