Skip to main content
Netherlands News in English

Main navigation

  • Top stories
  • Health
  • Crime
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Weird
  • 1-1-2
Image
A cat caused at least €10,000 in flood damage at the town hall in Dokkum, May 2023
A cat caused at least €10,000 in flood damage at the town hall in Dokkum, May 2023 - Credit: Gemeente Noardeast-Fryslân / Gemeente Noardeast-Fryslân - License: All Rights Reserved
Weird
Noardeast-Fryslân
Dokkum
flood damage
cat
town hall
renovations
Bert Koonstra
Monday, 15 May 2023 - 13:35

Share this article:

Video: Cat sneaks into Dokkum town hall and causes €10,000 in flood damage

A cat snuck into the newly renovated town hall in Dokkum, opened a tap, and caused 10,000 euros in water damage. The flood damage also means that part of the renovated building can’t be used yet, Omryp Fryslan and Leeuwarder Courant reported.

Renovation work started at the building, which falls under the municipality of Noardeast-Fryslan, in September. The opening will happen soon, but the left wing will have to remain closed for a while yet due to the cat.

Renovators found the first signs of the cat last week Friday, finding hair on one of the office chairs. They looked for the critter but couldn’t find it.

A day later, they found the floor covered in a few centimeters of water. “A devastation,” alderman Bert Koonstra told LC. There was moisture in the walls and the furniture, and water leaked through the floor into the parking garage. He estimates the damage at between 10,000 and 20,000 euros. “Really crazy.”

The workers closed the tap, tracked down the cat, and removed it from the premises. Luckily, the concrete floor into the parking garage was not irreparably damaged, Koonstra said.

More like this

Image
Wim the dinosaur king
Pro-republic group can't place giant dinosaur on King's Day route in Dokkum, court rules
Image
The Dutch royal family, from left to right, Crown princess Amalia, Queen Maxima, King Willem-Alexander, princess Ariane, princess Alexia, posing in the gardes of Huis ten Bosch Palace. 30 June 2025
Royal Family’s King’s Day route in Dokkum revealed; Festival weekend planned
Image
The Dutch royal family, from left to right, Crown princess Amalia, Queen Maxima, King Willem-Alexander, princess Ariane, princess Alexia, posing in the gardes of Huis ten Bosch Palace. 30 June 2025
King Willem-Alexander to celebrate his birthday in Dokkum next year
Image
Construction of a new high-rise apartment building in Amsterdam-Oost.
Fewer new homes built in first quarter 2026 than last year
Make NL Times your top Google source

Follow us:

Latest stories

  • Video: Amsterdam rules out ferret use in rat control, calling snap traps more humane
  • KNMI working on new system with local, not provincial weather warnings
  • Nearly half of Dutch people did volunteer work in 2025, Statistics Netherlands finds
  • Oak processionary caterpillar infestation worse than recent years as moth numbers climb
  • Dutch expedition ship Hondius resumes cruises after fatal hantavirus outbreak

Top stories

  • Several arrests made in connection with Amsterdam explosion; Ties to ATM burglary crew
  • Locals heard argument before Amsterdam blast that hurt 7; Police still focused on rescue
  • "It felt like an earthquake," locals say about explosion at Amsterdam apartment building
  • Video: 7 hurt in explosion at Amsterdam apartment building; Search for victims ongoing
  • Mayor shocked by school camp accident that killed 3 kids, 1 adult; 19-year-old arrested

© 2012-2026, NL Times, All rights reserved.

Footer menu

  • Change Privacy Settings
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • Partner Content