A fire broke out on 23 July at the white-goods store of 83-year-old Piet Cirk on Joubertstraat in Den Helder. CCTV appeared to show that a man may have started the fire, and police later arrested a 52-year-old man from Den Helder on suspicion of involvement. Cirk says the fire, his wife’s move to a nursing home for medical reasons and the insurer’s refusal to pay have left him under severe stress. He says he sleeps badly and may have to pay nearly €10,000 to clear the rented premises, as requested by the landlord.

Cirk expected a first preliminary hearing at the Haarlem court to provide more clarity about the police and judicial investigation. He says Nationale-Nederlanden has refused compensation because he allegedly did not meet policy conditions, including rules about the placement of appliances near the façade. The insurer says it cannot comment on the case until the court has ruled. Victim Support is due to attend the hearing on Cirk’s behalf and says it will guide him as far as possible, while not handling individual cases.