Heemstede maintains monumental status for former post office

The municipality of Heemstede has decided to maintain the monumental status of the former post office on Binnenweg. This decision upholds a previous ruling, confirming that the building is a valuable part of the local heritage.

Onno Draijer, the building's owner since late 2020, expressed surprise and disappointment regarding the decision. Draijer had intended to demolish the structure to make way for new construction, but the monument status prevents this. He argued that the municipality's research into redevelopment within monumental frameworks does not account for the financial reality, stating that reuse of the property would result in significant losses and is not financially viable.

The Council of State had previously ruled that the municipality had not sufficiently weighed the owner's financial interests. In response, the college of Heemstede conducted further research to justify why the monument status remains financially feasible compared to the public interest of heritage preservation. Draijer is currently reviewing the legal arguments to determine if he will appeal to the Council of State again.