Residents of flats on Aquamarijnstraat in Groningen’s Vinkhuizen neighbourhood have been asked to avoid drilling and hammering while investigations examine asbestos in wall plaster. The discovery was made during routine inspections in vacant apartments, according to OOG’s report published on 24 September.
The report concerns hundreds of homes across six blocks belonging to housing associations Nijestee and Patrimonium. Residents have been informed by letter, and further examinations are taking place in empty apartments in each of the six buildings. The GGD public health service is advising on possible health risks and subsequent measures, OOG reports.
Those findings leave an important question open: what do they mean for each occupied apartment? The reporting does not establish an individual resident’s exposure or provide a complete assessment for every home. The number of homes in the buildings should not be read as a count of people known to have inhaled asbestos.
For students renting on Aquamarijnstraat, the first practical step is to check whether the notice covers their exact address and obtain the latest instructions directly from their landlord. If you have not seen a letter, ask for a copy. A shared entrance, a housemate handling the post or a recent move can make it worth checking who received it.
If the letter is in Dutch, asbest means asbestos and stucwerk means plasterwork. Ask the housing association to explain the instructions in English if anything is unclear, especially whether restrictions apply to particular surfaces or rooms. Keep the original notice and share the instructions with everyone living in the apartment.
Asbestos becomes a health concern when fibres are inhaled. GGD Leefomgeving’s guidance explains that risk depends on the total amount inhaled over time. It also warns against drilling, sanding or sawing asbestos-containing material, because disturbance can release fibres. General guidance cannot determine the condition of the plaster in a particular Aquamarijnstraat apartment; that requires the investigation.
Until you receive updated instructions, pause work that could disturb the material covered by the warning. Hanging a shelf or preparing a wall for decoration can wait. If you have already carried out work, stop before doing more and tell the landlord what happened, where it happened and when. Ask the landlord and GGD what assessment or follow-up is appropriate.
Do not break off a piece of plaster to investigate it yourself. The Dutch government’s asbestos guidance explains that asbestos is difficult to identify by sight and that laboratory examination is used to establish its presence. Suspected material should be assessed through the appropriate professional route.
If you notice damage or loose material, describe it to the landlord and request instructions before attempting a repair or cleanup. GGD guidance recommends discussing damaged asbestos with the landlord and using specialist removal services rather than attempting removal yourself.
Residents also need a clear answer about using their homes while testing continues. Ask for written guidance specific to your address, including any restrictions on rooms, cleaning or ventilation. A general news report cannot provide clearance for an individual apartment, and a precautionary letter should be followed until the responsible organisations update it.
Four questions can make a conversation with the housing association more useful:
- Does the warning cover my exact apartment, and which materials or surfaces are being investigated?
- What activities should I avoid while the checks continue?
- When will I receive the next update, and how will the findings be explained?
- If work becomes necessary, who will arrange access, the work itself and any accommodation needed during it?
The responsibilities extend beyond asking tenants to be careful. Rijksoverheid states that the owner of asbestos-containing material must ensure the situation is safe and pay for removal when the material creates an unsafe situation. Ask the housing association to explain the proposed response in writing once the investigation establishes what is needed.
Keep copies of notices and emails, along with the dates of calls and the advice you receive. If a contractor is due to visit, mention the asbestos notice before work starts and ask the landlord to confirm the contractor has the relevant information.
The verified contact routes are:
- Nijestee: contact page, telephone 050 853 35 33.
- Patrimonium: contact page, telephone 050 529 9999, email klantenpunt@patrimonium-groningen.nl.
- Health questions: the local GGD’s Milieu & Gezondheid team. GGD Leefomgeving’s contact directory links residents to their regional service.
For international tenants, a useful update must explain both the findings and what they change in everyday life: whether restrictions remain, whether further access is needed and when the next decision will be communicated. Ask for that explanation in a language you understand, and make sure your landlord has a contact address you actively check.
