Municipality fails to respond to resident's noise complaints, Ombudsman intervenes
A resident's repeated reports about summer nuisance from boats and litter went unanswered by his municipality, leaving him frustrated. The National Ombudsman stepped in, revealing a lack of communication despite action being taken behind the scenes.
| Key Data Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Resident | Dion (pseudonym), lives by the water |
| Issue | Noise pollution, illegal boat mooring, litter, lack of municipal response |
| Reports Submitted | Multiple reports, no official complaint |
| Municipal Response | No communication, but actions were later confirmed |
| Intervention | National Ombudsman contacted the municipality |
| Outcome | Municipality examining situation, plans dialogue with involved parties |
The National Ombudsman investigates complaints about government bodies, ensuring they act fairly and transparently. In this case, the Ombudsman highlights the municipality's failure to communicate with a resident, emphasizing the importance of accountability in local governance.
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external link to whydonate.comRead the full translated article below
Nuisance by the water
Dion (not his real name) lives by the water and enjoys the view. Usually, it’s a pleasant and quiet place to live, but not always in practice. In the summer, boats are moored at the quay, sometimes even illegally. Combined with people lingering around the boats in the evening, this creates noise pollution and litter.
Dion is greatly affected by this and reports the nuisance to the municipality. However, the municipality does not respond to his report. That’s why Dion submits multiple reports, but hears nothing back. He has no idea what happens to his reports or whether the municipality even sees them. Frustrated by the lack of response, he contacts the National Ombudsman.
No response
He spoke with our colleague Youssef (not his real name). During a conversation with us, it became clear that Dion had not filed an official complaint with the municipality, though he had submitted numerous reports. The municipality had indeed received the reports but did not respond to them. To Dion, it feels as though his reports vanish into the system.
Action taken
A report is just as much a signal. Dion took the trouble to indicate where things are going wrong. It is up to the municipality to take these reports seriously and actively inform the reporter about what happens with the report. When Youssef then contacts the municipality, it turns out that actions have indeed been taken. The municipality is examining the situation and plans to engage in dialogue with all involved parties about the nuisance.
Lack of communication
I see this happen more often. Reports are registered and addressed, but the relevant authority forgets to inform the people who made the report. For residents like Dion, small annoyances quickly pile up into something bigger. Noise, mess, and uncertainty reinforce each other. When no response follows, the feeling grows that no one is paying attention or listening. This is precisely when clear communication is needed to prevent irritation from turning into distrust toward the government.
Contact helps
This doesn’t have to be complicated. A brief follow-up is often enough. We’ve done this. We will do this again. For Dion, this makes all the difference. Not because the nuisance disappears immediately, but because he now feels heard and, for the first time, sees progress. This allows him to enjoy the summer by the water a little more.
This column was published in *De Telegraaf* on March 28, 2026. The person in the photo is not the person mentioned in the article.