Southeast Netherlands faced with at least €500 mil. in storm damage

By Janene Pieters on June 27, 2016 - 16:10
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Motorists hiding from massive hail stones under an overpass on the A2 in Valkenwaard, 23 June 2016 (Photo: @claudiareiner01/Twitter). (Motorists hiding from massive hail stones under an overpass on the A2 in Valkenwaard, 23 June 2016 (Photo: @claudiareiner01/Twitter))

Recent storms in the southeast of the Netherlands caused much more damage than initially thought. In Someren alone, damages sustained by farmers and gardeners are estimated at half a billion euros, according to farmers' organization ZLTO, ANP reports.

Limburg and Noord-Brabant had to do with lots of rain and flooding throughout June. Add to that massive storms and hailstones the size of tennis balls last week, and damages keep piling up. According to ZLTO, many stables and greenhouses in Someren have no roofs left. "It is becoming more and more known what the consequences are. How many business, cars and homes were affected. That's how we came to that amount", a spokesperson said to ANP.

On Monday there is a crisis meeting between farmers, insurance companies and the Ministry of Economic Affairs in Someren. They will discuss the damages caused by the summer storms, as well as what to do about the fact that a large proportion of the damage is not covered by insurance policies.

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