Urk is considering raising market fees by 28 percent next year, prompting market traders to ask the municipal council to halt the plan. Traders say the increase could raise annual costs by almost €2,000 for some stalls and fear that entrepreneurs, particularly in the non-food sector, may leave. A permanent pitch would cost €830 next year and €1,061 the year after, while fees for non-permanent pitches would rise by several euros and larger stalls would pay an additional €0.85 per metre.

A market committee representative asked the council to first compare Urk’s fees and organisation costs with those in surrounding municipalities. Alderman Tunis Hoekstra said the municipality planned to collect €9,000 from the market annually rather than the €18,000 initially considered, so that the market would remain attractive and profitable. He said market organisation costs were expected to rise from €56,000 to €57,000, while market revenue was €40,000. The council was expected to discuss the proposal during its budget meeting on 12 November; the Forum for Democracy and Christian Union had requested more information about the costs.