Moerdijk residents demand 350% compensation as village faces disappearance

Residents of Moerdijk are challenging the municipality’s offer of full compensation and are seeking 350 percent as the village faces potential disappearance due to industrial expansion.

The village of 1,100 residents was notified a month ago that new industrial projects could eventually lead to the removal of the village. Many residents report feeling blindsided and abandoned by local, provincial, and national authorities.

Construction of new energy stations in the area is scheduled to begin in 2028 and is expected to be completed by 2033. The municipality recently revised its Moerdijk compensation scheme, increasing the offer from 95 percent to 100 percent of a home’s appraised value.

Officials say this is a temporary measure while final approvals from the province and national government are pending, and it does not constitute a legally binding end offer in the event of expropriation.

The Bewonerscollectief Moerdijk, a residents’ association formed to represent the village, says 70 percent of households support the initiative. The group argues that standard compensation does not adequately cover relocation costs, emotional damage, and social disruption.

Residents have hired attorney Geert Jan Knoops to pursue higher compensation. He cited European human rights law, noting that the European Court of Human Rights guarantees at least 100 percent compensation but also considers other losses. “Not only the market value of a home counts, but also loss of social life, business activities, and cultural heritage,” Knoops said. “Ignoring these factors places an unreasonable burden on residents.”

Local real estate agent Pieter van Wensen described Moerdijk’s housing market as effectively frozen, with home prices already 10 to 15 percent below neighboring villages. “Once expropriation occurs, compensation will likely exceed 100 percent, but very high percentages like those now proposed by residents are questionable,” he told Een Vandaag.