Claims handling costs in particular appear to be a thorny issue. Groningen does not want to calculate costs and states that an unlimited budget is required. Moreover, the amount of 30 billion euros should be added to the investments, say the directors. For example, they want to make homes gas-free.

But according to sources from NOS The Cabinet has come up with one concession of more than €20 billion, which also pays for damage repairs and home strengthening. This is while the costs of dealing with the damage in the earthquake area are already estimated at between 5 and 10 billion euros. These costs could increase with new earthquakes.

Prime Minister Rutte and Foreign Minister Hans Felberev (mining) are in Groningen today to explain compensation plans. If the budget is too small, the government will face heavy criticism in the House of Representatives, which has already endorsed the investigation committee’s conclusions. “There is a price for this forgetfulness for the people of Groningen.”