The Dutch village at risk of being demolished

The Dutch Village at Risk of Being Demolished

Nestled along the southern edge of the Netherlands, Moerdijk—a village of approximately 1,100 residents—stands on the brink of erasure. Located 34km south of Rotterdam, this small fishing town lies beside the Hollands Diep estuary, a strategic location for the country’s push toward renewable energy. The Dutch government has identified the area as a key site for constructing high-voltage substations, which would link electricity from offshore wind farms to the national grid. Yet, the challenge of limited land space has forced officials to consider Moerdijk for its proximity to ports, motorways, and existing power infrastructure.

Residents, however, are grappling with the prospect of their homes being razed within the next decade. For many, the village is more than a place to live; it is a cornerstone of community life. “We’re facing a fate akin to being led to the slaughter,” says Jaco Koman, a third-generation fishmonger. From his office, overlooking the estuary’s shimmering waters, he gestures toward the horizon, where generations of his family have fished since 1918. His business continues to preserve eels for smoking, a traditional Dutch delicacy, and supply gourmet restaurants nationwide.

“You go to bed with it and you wake up with it,” Koman reflects on the looming threat. “Are they really saying that you have to go with your village?”

The unease is evident in Moerdijk’s streets, where for-sale signs dot gravel paths. Yet few buyers are eager to invest in a place that may vanish entirely. Flags hang at half-mast, a somber symbol of mourning for a village that technically still exists. Inside the local grocery shop, owner Andrea voices her fears. “I’m scared I’ll lose my house,” she says. “There’s so much life here. But in 10 years, it may be nothing.”

“What will happen to the graves?” Andrea asks, her voice trembling. Her husband built their home, and all three of their children were born in the village. Her grandparents and in-laws rest in the quiet cemetery, adding a personal dimension to the crisis.

Moerdijk’s dilemma mirrors broader challenges across the Netherlands. The country’s dense population has long strained land use, balancing needs for housing, farming, nature, and industry. Now, the demand for renewable energy infrastructure intensifies this struggle. With the electricity grid already congested in some regions, delays in connecting projects are becoming common. Despite this, the government remains resolute in its plans to expand offshore wind capacity in the North Sea.

Geerten Boogaard, a professor at Leiden University, highlights the political dynamics at play. “In the end, we are a centralist state,” he explains. When the national government declares an initiative “vital to the national interest,” it has the authority to enforce its vision. Local councils can object, and residents can contest decisions, but the central government’s legal tools ultimately prevail. This power, however, comes with significant political and financial consequences.