FVD Submits Parliamentary Questions about the Plan to Destroy the Village of Moerdijk in the Name of Energy Transition

13 November 2025

The centuries-old Brabant village of Moerdijk - a community of more than 1,100 residents – is in danger of disappearing to make way for new energy infrastructure. The municipal council of Moerdijk has decided that demolishing the village is “the only option” to create space for high-voltage stations, pipelines, and other components deemed necessary to continue the energy transition. Forum for Democracy finds this completely unacceptable.

Villages and communities are not bargaining chips for climate madness or abstract transition plans, according to FVD MPs Peter van Duijvenvoorde and Pepijn van Houwelingen, who were sworn in to parliament today. The idea that residents should give up their homes, history and social ties for an ideological green dream defies all moral and political sense.

Immediately after their inauguration in the House of Representatives, Van Duijvenvoorde and Van Houwelingen submitted written questions to the Minister for Climate and Green Growth. They are demanding clarification regarding this absurd proposal and want to know how it is even possible that the government is considering wiping a village off the map for climate plans.

Forum for Democracy will continue to oppose the destruction of our living environment, our history, and our communities, both in Moerdijk and across the Netherlands.

You can read the questions from MPs Van Duijvenvoorde and Van Houwelingen below.

Written questions from MPs Van Duijvenvoorde (FVD) and Van Houwelingen (FVD) to the Minister for Climate and Green Growth about destroying the village of Moerdijk for the benefit of the energy transition

1. Is the minister aware of the NOS article about demolishing the village of Moerdijk?
   
    
2. Does the minister share the concerns of, among others, residents that demolishing this centuries-old village would be an exceptionally drastic measure?
   
    
3. Does the minister consider it desirable that centuries-old villages in the Netherlands disappear to make room for the energy transition?
   
    
4. If the answer to question 3 is affirmative, can the minister indicate how often this is expected to occur in the future?
   
    
5. If the answer to question 3 is negative, what steps is the minister taking to prevent this supposed precedent from being followed in the future?
   
    
6. How does demolishing a village align with the current government policy focused on liveable residential environments, the preservation of communities, resolving the housing crisis, and safeguarding heritage?
   
    
7. Does the minister agree with the questioners that demolishing a village is a violation of property rights?
   
    
8. If the answer to question 7 is negative, why does the minister believe that demolishing a village is not a violation of property rights?
   
    
9. Does the minister believe that the energy transition may go so far as to allow villages to be destroyed?
   
    
10. Does the minister acknowledge that in practice, residents have no means to prevent such a decision, even though it concerns the loss of their place of residence and community?
    
     
11. Does the minister believe it is democratically undesirable that a municipal council - working together with the province and the national government - can make such decisions without binding public participation, such as a referendum among residents?
    
     
12. Does the minister consider it to be in the public interest to destroy centuries-old villages?
    
     
13. If the answer to question 12 is affirmative, why is this in the public interest?
    
     
14. If the answer to question 12 is negative, does the minister agree with the questioners that it is in the public interest to protect history, culture, and heritage, and therefore to ensure the preservation of a centuries-old village?
    
     
15. What criteria were used by the municipal council in cooperation with the national government to determine that destroying the village of Moerdijk is necessary?
    
     
16. To what extent has systematic research been conducted comparing alternative locations for new energy infrastructure?
    
     
17. To what extent and in what manner have residents of the village of Moerdijk been involved in this decision?
    
     
18. What legal basis exists for destroying the village, and what would this look like in practice?
    
     
19. If the village is to be destroyed, how will the 1,100 residents be compensated in concrete terms, and will (im)material damage caused by displacement be taken into account, such as psychological burden, loss of community, loss of services, and effects on commuting?
    
     
20. How will new, suitable housing be provided for 1,100 residents, particularly during a housing crisis?
    
     
21. Are there plans to destroy other residential areas in the future for the benefit of the energy transition?
    
     
22. If the answer to question 21 is affirmative, can the minister indicate which plans these concern?
    
     
23. Is the minister willing to investigate whether - together with the province of North Brabant and the municipality of Moerdijk - alternatives can be developed that ensure the preservation of the village of Moerdijk?

Can the minister answer these questions as soon as possible and individually?