Specific enforcement in environmental law for Leiden
The Environment and Planning Act (Ow) integrates enforcement from the General Administrative Law Act (Awb) and sector-specific acts, with specific application in Leiden where the municipality takes strict action against violations in the densely populated city center and along the Rhine. Article 5.1 Ow grants powers for coercive measures in cases of illegal constructions, such as unpermitted extensions to historic buildings in the Leiden city center, or environmental violations around university complexes.
The enforcement policy of the municipality of Leiden prioritizes risks, with a focus on the Acute Hazard Zone (AGZ) near industrial zones such as the Leiden Bio Science Park. Proportionality weighs business damage in the high-tech sector against the protection of the vulnerable Leiden water quality and green lungs such as the Hortus Botanicus area.
Practical examples in Leiden
In cases of excessive nitrogen deposition due to renovation activities in Leiden-Noord, the municipality may impose administrative coercion, such as halting work. The Council for the Built Environment advises a risk-based approach, tailored to local circumstances. Recent case law (ECLI:NL:RVS:2023:789) reviews the necessity of measures for illegal expansions around the Leiden Singel.
The violator in Leiden has an information obligation towards the Environmental Service West-Holland; non-compliance leads to higher sanctions and possible closure. This local framework encourages sustainable compliance in the university and historic context of Leiden.