Gas firm: €68 million to earthquake-proof Groningen cultural center

Gas firm NAM is giving the city of Groningen 68 million euros to make the new cultural center, the Groninger Forum, earthquake resistant. The company and the city had previously already broadly agreed on compensation, but the final deal was signed on Wednesday, NOS reports. Construction on the Groninger Forum had to be halted earlier this year because the building would not be able to withstand severe earthquakes caused by gas extraction in the province. The bulk of the money will be used to reinforce the main structure of the building. Part of the building that has already been constructed will have to be demolished to do so. Part of the money is also intended to compensate the city for the costs resulting from the delay of construction. The opening date for the Groninger Forum is set for early 2019, two years later than the original plan. The center will house, among other things, a library, a cinema and a comic book museum.