A group of growers who bought land in a greenhouse area could face millions after a court ruling. The Dutch growers, after being the first to enter the area, saw land sold years later at much lower amounts. They point to a clause stipulating that they are then entitled to compensation. In this case, the amount involved is €14.5 million.
The six growers bought land for 27 to 30 euros per square meter in 2007/2008. In 2019/2020, land went off hand for converted 6.97 to 8.93 euros per square meter. At the time, the greenhouse land was sold for the realisation of a solar meadow.
The growers asked the land development company for a refund early last year because of the sale of land for a lower square-meter price than what they bought land for in 2007/2008 in the glasshouse horticulture area of California. That payment did not materialize. Partly because some of the growers would no longer have rights. Moreover, the clause would no longer apply because the land was not sold for greenhouse cultivation.
Growers are (rightly) in a hurry
The court disagreed with both points, argued by the operating company, and vindicated the growers. They wanted the clause to prevent them as first entrants from being disadvantaged later compared to later buyers who could buy land at a much lower investment.
The operating company says it does not have the money to pay the millions. Moreover, it points out that the sale of land for the realization of the solar meadow could still be annulled as the actions of a former director are still under judicial investigation. NRC published about the case several times in recent years.
The judge agreed with the growers that it is precisely important to have a ruling now, to prevent the operating company from indeed running out of money to pay later. The ongoing judicial investigation is also no reason for the judge not to allow the operating company to pay based on the current state of affairs.
The land exploitation company is required by the Limburg District Court to pay each of the six growers between €2 million and €3 million, according to the September 11 ruling.