Zuid-Holland commits €31 million to facilitate Eli Lilly factory in Katwijk

Zuid-Holland politicians have approved a contribution of at least €31 million toward traffic measures in the municipality of Katwijk, surrounding an area where thousands of homes and a large pharmaceutical factory belonging to the American Eli Lilly is to be built. The Provincial Council did set the condition that Eli Lilly must not be allowed to build a factory classified as a Seveso facility.

A Seveso facility is a place where large quantities of hazardous substances are handled. There is a European directive for such companies to limit the risks. A large majority (47-5) in the Zuid-Holland Provincial Council does not want the pharmaceutical company to have such a facility.

PvdD pointed out that Eli Lilly has a Seveso facility in Ireland. “We do not want that in Katwijk,” said Provincial Council member Robert Jan Vonk. “We instruct the Provincial Executive to make every effort to prevent such a company from establishing itself here.”

Provincial Executive member Meindert Stoll (CDA) said that Eli Lilly has not applied for a Seveso permit. “We also have no reason to believe that such an application will be submitted. There is not a single Seveso company located on the entire Leiden Bio Science Park. No one wants dangerous situations or a company emitting all kinds of pollutants into the environment.”

The province recently reached agreements with the municipality of Katwijk and the national government regarding the accessibility of the area. The authorities are jointly investing over €100 million in measures to reduce traffic congestion on the provincial road N206 between Leiden and Katwijk. This was a strict requirement of the Katwijk municipal council in order to approve the arrival of Eli Lilly.

The pharmaceutical company plans to build a factory for $3 billion where 500 people will work. The new Valkenhorst district, with 5,600 homes, will also be built along the N206.

The national government and the province are jointly contributing €72 million euros, although they still need to reach agreements regarding the distribution of the final €10 million. Katwijk is contributing €31 million towards the traffic measures.

Some parties in the Zuid-Holland Provincial Council, including coalition party PRO, believe that the Council was not always sufficiently informed about the developments surrounding Eli Lilly in recent months.

“The discussion on this really should have been conducted better and more broadly. As the Provincial Council, we should have been able to look for a solution regarding the consequences for the power grid, drinking water, and the environment,” said Sinan Özkaya (PRO). "There is a looming drinking water shortage, but now a factory is being built that guzzles as much water as the entire town of Valkenhorst."