Pub owner warned for orange-painted façade

A pub owner in Elburg, Gelderland, has been told to turn his festively painted orange pub back to white by some angry civil servants. The man's attempt to bring some football pride to his town's streets has been shot down with the threat of a fine. Sebastiaan Bos is disappointed. He decked his pub out in the traditional World Cup fever colors, but has been told that the municipality will fine him €2500 per day for the orange façade. "All of The Netherlands is orange, except Elburg", Bos says. The municipality is unrelenting and stubborn in this case. "I have a very orange feeling", alderman Rien Baukema swears. "But we are in a heritage area. This campaign doesn't fit in here. I understand the thought behind it with the euphoria we have shifted into, but orange was just a step too far." Part of Elburg is a protected townscape. Listed buildings of national heritage are protected, and their façades must be maintained as original as possible.

Je kroeg een passend tintje meegeven? Mag niet! Zegt gemeente Elburg. Wit verven of 2500 euro p/d betalen #hvnl pic.twitter.com/rxc8s3OHXM

— Jeroen Langenhof (@JeroenLangenhof) June 16, 2014