Erna is referring to a practice of farmers that is also called land grabbing in the Achterhoek. Farmers digitally claim a piece of land that does not belong to them in a government system. This way they can receive more subsidies in Brussels and more manure can be spread on their own land. The real owner of the land often has no idea that this is happening.
Recreation park
When you arrive at Buitengebied de Panoven, the first thing you see is a beautiful old brick oven. “That is industrial heritage,” says 70-year-old Erna. “The Panoven has been in the family since 1921. First as a brick kiln, later as a recreational park. These grounds are very important to us.”
De Panoven welcomes 60,000 visitors every year and 300 people can stay there if necessary. “We offer tours and recreation. My husband passed away a few years ago, but my son is also in the company, so the succession is going well,” she laughs.
Friendly farmer
For years, a farmer friend from a care farm has been spreading the manure from his horses partly over Erna’s land. But because farmers have been obliged to register their land with the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) since the beginning of this year, the farmer asked Erna if he could do so with one hectare of the Panoven.
“And then the report came that there were three claims on our land,” says Erna with slightly restrained anger. “I called the RVO to check our plots. And guess what? We own 10 hectares and three farmers had registered 2.5 hectares of ours!”
Farmers do this because for every hectare of land registered with the RVO, a subsidy of several hundred euros can be applied for from Brussels. In addition, more land also means more manure spreading options and therefore more animals and crops.
Inquiries with the RVO reveal that the registration system is not watertight. The service works with topographical maps, on which cadastral properties are not clearly visible, and claims are checked on a random basis.
Erna was shocked, but after careful consultation, two farmers withdrew their claim. “But an old farmer plays a fool. He does not withdraw his claim. It concerns about one hectare.”
Call
If Erna’s neighbor had not asked if he could use her land, she would never have found out. “And that is a cause for concern,” says Marcel Tap of Hiswa-Recron, the trade association for companies in the water sports and recreation sector.
“We suspect that many of our members’ land, ditches and waterways have unlawful claims from farmers. We therefore call on our members to check their plots with the RVO.”
It is not only land and ditches belonging to recreational entrepreneurs that are being unlawfully claimed by farmers. Roadsides of local authorities also do not escape the registration frenzy of farmers, according to a recently published report research from research platform Investico. A sample of 749 plots claimed by farmers, which are owned by the government, showed that 26 percent had not been given permission.
Municipality of Berkelland
Mayor Joost van Oostrum of the municipality of Berkelland can discuss this. “We have now re-established 30 kilometers of roadsides via posts and reclaimed them from farmers. But we still have 30 kilometers to go,” he explains.
“Some farmers take over land and assume that our roadside belongs to their land,” says Mayor Van Oostrum. “But sometimes there is a traffic sign on the roadside, then you know you have gone too far.”
The roadsides are important for the municipalities of Berkelland. “We want to use them for ecological roadside management. Roadsides can be an important green connection between forest areas, just like streams.”
Linking systems
According to Van Oostrum, the RVO can tackle the problem of improper registrations well. “Link the system to cadastral maps. Then you can immediately see who owns the land. And if a farmer is not the owner, but does have the right to register the land, he must upload an agreement.”
The RVO indicates that the rules have become stricter. “With oral agreements between farmers and landowners, we have recently also asked for an agreement,” says a spokesperson.
“Duplicate claims have also recently been checked by the system and inspectors carry out random checks. And when reports are reported, we check the claims and improper use is reclaimed,” the RVO spokesperson explains.
Right
But that’s exactly the problem. Owners must first register their land with RVO to see whether there is already a claim on it. “And which entrepreneur does that? He or she is busy with business,” says Tap from Hiswa-Recron. “Hence, once again, my appeal to members to check their land. Only then will you know for sure.”
Back to De Panoven in Zevenaar. Erna is standing near the lawn that has been claimed by a farmer in the area. “After consultation with the RVO, I agreed that I will talk to the farmer again and that someone from the RVO will then call him to help him reverse the claim.”
And if he doesn’t? “Then I will go to court,” Erna is determined, although she finds it the opposite world. “I have to ask a thief for permission to leave my house. Without rules, people go in all directions.”
2023-11-15 12:44:17
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