Victims of The Hague apartment explosion receive €15,000 each from crowdfunding effort

Ten victims of the Tarwekamp explosions in The Hague were handed a check by the association Lichtpuntjes van Mariahoeve with money that was raised for them through crowdfunding. The fee is meant for 44 of the affected households and business owners, of which a part was present during the symbolic handover.

All of the victims will receive a fee of 15,129 euros. At first, it was 15,572 euros, but another person recently came forward, meaning that the money had to be divided by more people.

In total, a fee of almost 700,000 euros was raised for the people affected by the explosions. The local help association Lichtpuntjes van Mariahoeve was awarded ANBI status, meaning that the people will not be taxed on the money they receive.

The victims present expressed their gratitude during the gathering. “Every euro that has been given is worth twice as much,” said one of them. The victims handed a small statute with a golden ball to the association, as a symbol of the bright spot, which is in the association’s name.

“We are super grateful for all the donations and the pick me up that we are receiving,” said two business owners who had a wine store inside the complex. Since they do not yet know what will happen to the damaged building, depending on whether the complex is renovated or demolished, they are keeping the amount for the time being.

One resident whose home was severely damaged by the explosions and fire has good use for the money. She praised the generosity and involvement of the association Lichtpuntjes. “It is not just the money but also what they all mean to you,” she said.

"We can help each other, but the difficult thing is: no one lives next to you anymore." In her case, too, it is not certain what will happen to her currently uninhabitable apartment, for which she still pays the mortgage. The woman has now found a rental home.

Six people lost their lives during the explosions and the fire that followed last December, and many more people were injured.