Objections to the Council of State
After years of protests and discussions, the Baarn city council adopted the new zoning plan for Soestdijk Palace last year. Baarn’s decision enables the Meyer Bergman Erfgoed Groep, owner of Soestdijk since 2017, to restore the palace and the estate. They are also allowed to build apartments, furnish a shop, a hotel and a catering facility and hold events.
Eleven parties are bringing their objections to the attention of the Council of State again today. They want it to reverse the council decision. The Administrative Law Division is the highest court in disputes between citizens and the government. In addition to nature organisations, the objectors also include many private individuals, who in a number of cases have united in groups and are then jointly represented by a lawyer.
It’s going to be a long sit. The Department has set aside the whole day to question the ‘plaintiffs’, the municipality and the estate owners about twelve subjects such as the need for housing and events, and their impact on nature and local residents. The Council of State aims to make a decision in six weeks, but it is a complex matter and therefore it will probably take much longer.