Review of the December Provincial States meeting
We’re already in the new year, but we’re taking a quick look back at the final Provincial Council meeting of 2025. On the agenda was, among other things, the province’s land policy. Curious how it went? Read a short recap below.
Unfortunately, Volt's proposal to regularly check whether provincial land is being used properly for housing, nature and other public purposes did not receive a majority vote. We also proposed better protection for old forest land, but this proposal was also rejected. However, several other proposals co-sponsored by Volt were adopted.
The meeting was turbulent due to a motion of censure against Deputy Zoet, who is responsible for old forest land and small nature reserves with provincial protected status. Plans by the coalition threaten to strip a large part of these nature reserves of their protected status, while an external report states that at least 65% deserve protection. Important information was only shared after insistence.
Provincial States member David Eissens: “Instead of apologising, the deputy did not provide a clear explanation and dug himself deeper and deeper into the hole.