The province of Flevoland has applied to the Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management for a so-called tolerance decision that could require five owners to allow the removal of their eight remaining old wind turbines near Zeewolde, even without their consent. The province said it had first made extensive efforts to reach an agreement with the owners and that expropriation would be too far-reaching. A hearing took place at Rijkswaterstaat on 6 October, and the province expects a decision before the end of the year. The decision could be appealed to the Administrative Court.

The owners would be entitled to full compensation for damage directly resulting from a compulsory decision, with Windpark Zeewolde paying the costs. The parties are still discussing the amount, which could be determined by a civil court if they fail to agree. The province says all old turbines must have been removed by 31 December. According to the account, this would end a more than ten-year process in which about 220 scattered turbines in Zeewolde’s landscape are to be replaced by 91 modern turbines at Windpark Zeewolde.