Week 18

Week 18

On the way to Utrecht

Sitting on the boat in Blokzijl at the moment. Lovely weather! While it lasts.

The goal is to meet Frank and Pam in Utrecht by Sunday. But we have to be there by Friday as Janny has to get home.

This is Janny's much deserved "holiday", so I'm having to be a bit creative. We have the option of going through the polder (reclaimed land) or around the coast to Harderwijk. Now, I've been through the polder about 10 times, each time almost in awe at the concept of what they had to do to reclaim the land. I thought it might be nice for Janny to see it, but as I am writing, I'm thinking of going to Harderwijk - something new for both of us.

Then, the next day to Weesp and then a further day to Utrecht. We should have a day up our sleeve.

Sunday was good to get going again after the winter - the winters drag on and the boating season disappears in a flash - funny about that. 

Robin and Joy travelled with us for a while until we pulled over for a morning tea to say goodbye before they head back to Darwin. Their boat is looking very ready to be sold, Robin has a knack for getting things done - and with the aid of a very able helper in Joy.

Robin arrived on our doorstep in 2016 having ridden his motorbike across Mongolia and Russia and however many more countries to get to Wijnjewoude. I took him for what I thought would be a comparatively "tame" experience on the boat... but they loved it and ended up buying Johanna.

So, we are now 7 years further and time for more changes...

Johanna following us away from Heerenveen...

Coffee break, somewhere on the Tjonger...

Farewell.

Janny and I continued on to Blokzijl, realising that it is 10 years since the first time we went there.

(She has a new selfie-stick).

And caught up with Janny's brother, Sipke, who lives in Blokzijl.

Voluntary buyout of farms to reduce nitrogen levels - Netherlands plans approved by the EU.

The schemes, which can run up to 27 February 2028, are open to small and medium-sized livestock farmers who close their operations, provided that their current nitrogen deposits exceed minimum levels. 

The compensation of up to 120% of the value of the business will only be open to farmers who close down definitively and guarantee they will not start the same activity elsewhere in the Netherlands or within the EU. 

In total, some 3,000 highly polluting farms located close to Natura 2000 areas could be shut down. 

The 12 Dutch provinces will be responsible for putting the plan into action. This may be complicated by the fact that pro-farmers party BBB became the biggest in all provinces at the March 15 vote. The party opposes compulsory buyouts – which the government has mooted – and wants the deadline to cut emissions moved from 2030 to 2035.

I don't think we produce enough nitrogen to qualify... :)

Fire deaths (animals)

Insurer’s association Verbond van Verzekeraars is urging the government to make haste with projected factory farm fire safety legislation because thousands of animals are being killed in fires every year. In total, 158,000 birds and animals were killed in the 43 barn fires recorded in 2022, of which 19 involved fatalities, the association said in its annual risk monitor. 

The number one cause of barn fires is faulty electrical installations due to bad maintenance, the association said. It urged the government to make haste with draft legislation to put a legal limit on the number of animals per unit in new and renovated barns as well as an obligatory annual fire safety check. 

In around 20 cases the exact cause of the fire could not be established. ‘Barn fires are often huge and extremely destructive. We do know what the most likely causes are and although they can’t always be prevented farmers can do much to keep the risks as small as possible by checking their installations,’ a spokesman for the association said. 

An additional risk is that farms are often in isolated areas and fire services take a relatively long time to get there, animal welfare organisation Wakker Dier said. It is campaigning for more far-reaching measures, such as fire retardant walls, fire detection sprinkler systems and an investigation into ways animals can get outside in case of fire.

Odd Spot

The Police stopped a driver in Groningen- he gave this up as his driver's licence - the Police weren't fooled :)

May is expected to remain cold...but we put the trampoline back up.

Lots of rain on Saturday...