PVV economics minister confronted with bankruptcy, forced KHN departure in parliament

Dick Beljaarts, the PVV’s candidate for Minister of Economic Affairs, was confronted by reports of a suspicious bankruptcy under his directorship and being forced out of the hospitality lobby organization KHN during his interview with parliamentarians on Monday. According to Beljaarts, he was not to blame for the bankruptcy of KHN Rekenwerk, and it is not true that the KHN board asked him to step down as director because they disagreed with his management style, NOS reports.

On Friday, De Telegraaf and Financieele Dagblad reported that a bankruptcy administrator was investigating possible abuses surrounding the bankruptcy of KHN Rekenwerk, which went under last year while Beljaarts was its director. The company leaves behind almost 2 million euros in debts, including 553,000 euros owed to the Tax Authority.

Four customers of KHN Rekenwerk have submitted claims for damages totaling 182,000 euros. In his most recent report, bankruptcy administrator Erick Quaars wrote that many KHN Rekenwerk customers paid for services that were never provided.

“It’s generally a storm in a teacup,” Beljaarts responded to questions from parliamentarians about the bankruptcy. The Tweede Kamer is currently interviewing the candidates for Cabinet positions. Beljaart’s turn was on Monday morning. “I am not to blame,” he said.

According to Beljaarts, there is no chance of him personally being held liable for damages suffered by KHN Rekenwerk’s customers. Until January last year, he was a “remote director” and did not interfere with the company, he said. When he took a more active role, he was the one who discovered irregularities and started working on them, he said. His efforts ultimately proved insufficient to prevent bankruptcy.

“I sit here with a clear conscience,” Beljaarts said. “It is not without reason that a report was filed against the other manager and not against me.” He didn’t want to give more substantive comments so as not to hinder the bankruptcy administrator’s investigation.

Many MPs were not satisfied with Beljaart’s answers. NSC parliamentarian Femke Zeedijk pointed out that KHN Rekenwerk’s 2020 figures already showed that the company suffered a significant loss. “Even as a remote director, you must have seen those figures were strange.”

GroenLinks-PvdA, D66, and DENK wondered whether Blejaarts could dodge responsibility for the bankruptcy. “Your signature is under those annual figures,” said GroenLinks-PvdA MP Joris Thijssen. Ismail el Abassi wanted to know what exactly a “remote director” was. “I know two types of director: director or not director.”

MPs also raised concerns about what would happen if the bankruptcy administrator concluded that Beljaarts was to blame for the bankruptcy after all. The NSC asked for clarity on this before the new Cabinet is sworn in on July 2.

On Monday, the Volkskrant also reported that the KHN management forced Beljaarts to leave the organization KHN Rekenwerk’s bankruptcy. Critical stakeholders described him as emotional and a “micromanager” who cannot handle criticism. Beljaarts resigned in March.

Beljaarts denied being forced out. He acknowledged that there were different views among KHN members about his actions, but said that happens in everyo organization. Criticism of him started in the pandemic when many catering businesses ran into trouble, he said. “The association’s line was in the middle, but some wanted stricter action against the measures, and others wanted a bit more calm.” The board always supported him as director, Beljaarts argued. He resigned from the KHN because he needed something different after the pandemic, he said.