Groningen opposition seeks urgent debate over WEC’s €2.8m shortfall

Opposition parties in Groningen province are seeking an urgent debate about the financial crisis at the World Heritage Centre Wadden Sea (WEC) in Lauwersoog. The centre says it expects to go bankrupt in the short term, according to ANP. [1]

The WEC is short of €2.8 million. It opened last spring and houses, among other facilities, the seal rescue centre previously based in Pieterburen. The centre’s problems stem from higher-than-expected construction costs and fewer visitors than forecast. Groningen province and Het Hogeland municipality say they will not put more public money into it. [1]

D66 wants the province to explain its reasoning and say whether a restart is possible. The party’s group leader, Paula Benjamins-Van Oudheusden, says bankruptcy would cost dozens of people their jobs, leave builders unpaid and put seal care at risk. The CDA and SP are among the parties backing the request for a debate. [1]