State Council passes final judgment on Huize Ivicke

Wassenaar approach to protecting national monument works

Wassenaar, April 2, 2025 - On April 2, 2025, the Administrative Law Division of the Council of State ruled against the enforcement decisions in the Huize Ivicke case. The municipality of Wassenaar was vindicated on almost all points against the appeal of Monumenten Restauratie WH B.V. (MRWH) and Muntendamsche Investerings Maatschappij B.V. (MIM). This confirmed that the municipality was right to intervene to prevent the loss of the National Monument on the Rust en Vreugdlaan in Wassenaar.

Case Background 

The Municipality of Wassenaar has tried for years, in consultation with the owner, to achieve the necessary maintenance work on Huize Ivicke. When this did not lead to action, an administrative order was imposed in November 2019. The municipality finally had the necessary work done itself in 2020-2021 to stop further neglect. The cost of this was recovered from the owner, who objected and appealed.

Important ruling for heritage protection 

The Council of State has now confirmed that the municipality specified in sufficient detail what measures were necessary and that these measures were allowed to extend beyond making the building wind and watertight. The construction stop imposed by the municipality has also been assessed as lawful. In addition, it was determined that the construction costs incurred for the repairs were rightly recovered from the owner. This means that the shortfall subsidy received by the municipality from the Province of South Holland can be repaid by it. With this amount, other municipalities may also be able to receive financial support when they are forced to take enforcement action against neglect of monuments.

Collaboration for heritage conservation 

The support of the Province of South Holland and the Department of Cultural Heritage underlines that heritage protection is a joint responsibility. The municipality of Wassenaar hopes that this case serves as an example for other municipalities and that owners of monumental properties become aware of their responsibility to preserve historical heritage. Finally, the municipality would like to see the owner of Huize Ivicke get to work on the further restoration and preparing the property for use.

Comments from the congregation 

Alderman Ronald Zoutendijk is pleased with the ruling: "This is a breakthrough for the protection of heritage in the Netherlands. Municipalities can now act with more certainty when monumental buildings are in danger of falling into disrepair. This offers perspective for the preservation of our cultural heritage."

Mayor Leendert de Lange also sees the ruling as an important step forward: "This confirms that a persistent municipality, with the support of the City Council and the Province, can achieve results in protecting national monuments. The Wassenaar approach thus serves as an example for other municipalities. We hope that this will be emulated, so that heritage protection in the Netherlands will be structurally strengthened."