Noordwijk municipality apologizes for beach pavilion enforcement errors

The Noordwijk municipal executive has apologized for poor communication regarding enforcement actions taken against local beach pavilions. Following inspections by the Omgevingsdienst West-Holland (ODWH) starting in March, sixteen out of seventeen inspected pavilions received notices of intent for fines.

While entrepreneurs were informed of inspections in 2023 and 2024, no notification letters were sent in 2025. The municipality acknowledged that the transition to formal enforcement should have been communicated more clearly and suggested that a joint information session might have prevented unrest.

Authorities stated that not all violations pose immediate risks to safety, health, or the environment. The municipality is reviewing each case to determine if reasonable recovery periods, customization, or legalization are possible. A significant number of entrepreneurs have already applied for permits to legalize their current operations.