VR 5 SEP 2025, 14:22
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Krimpen aan de Lek – The bankruptcy of Stichting Cultuurhuis Krimpen a/d Lek in October 2024 did not fall from the sky. This is apparent from an independent investigation of facts that Strated Consulting carried out on behalf of the municipality of Krimpenerwaard. The report outlines a picture of financial need, administrative instability and a municipality that was always aware, but did not act adequately.
Since the opening in 2015, the Cultuurhuis has received an annual subsidy for rent and activities. Yet the equity was already negative in 2021. At the beginning of 2022, the board approached the municipality for extra corona tune. The corona rampage and therefore turnover loss and higher maintenance costs (such as energy costs) weighed heavily.
In June 2022, the college awarded nearly 38,000 euros, but rejected a request of 34,000 euros for energy costs. A year later, emergency aid of more than 31,000 euros followed. Nevertheless, the deficits continued to rise. The Cultuurhuis closed 2022 with a minus of 25,000 euros and 2023 with minus 31,000 euros.
Administrative changes
The board had numerous changes. Presidents arrived and finished, so sometimes only one or two board members remained. Legal affairs of the municipality warned in June 2023 that the foundation ‘Formally was still competent, but urgently had to recruit new directors’.
The director also resigned in 2023. A newly appointed business leader tried to increase the rents of institutions, but that failed by old contract agreements, anyway a millstone on the neck of the board.
Advisors from Katalys, who assisted the Cultuurhuis in 2023, warned that it was ‘five to twelve’. They advised to appoint a commercial director and to introduce a different revenue model, for example through rental to self -employed people.
Fire letter summer 2024
On August 13, 2024, the board sent a fire letter: “From the end of September we can no longer pay our bills”. It pointed to increasing staff costs, maintenance, higher costs and lagging visitor numbers since Corona. Shortly thereafter, the bankruptcy was inevitable.
The facts investigate that the municipality always informed the council, but that the seriousness of the situation was presented too rosy. For example, the college wrote in June 2023 that ‘the Cultuurhuis is working hard to run a comprehensive exploitation’, while internal signals pointed to major problems.
You can also read in the report: ‘The ambitions were high and the space may be too large, given the social destination’.
The SBBV committee will discuss the report in its meeting on Tuesday 16 September.
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