This investigation focused on the governance culture of the province. On October 31, 2012, this Committee presented the report Entrepreneurial Governance. On the Governance Culture of the Province of North Holland 2003 – 2011. In summary, it concludes that various irregularities have occurred, which concentrate on one official, and which should be considered undesirable. Namely because, among other things, norms of good governance have been violated. And from which lessons for the future can and must be drawn. This report aims to contribute to that. 

The way in which this official maintained business relationships is part of the investigation. On page 102 of this report, the Committee recorded the following:

“The summons from the Public Prosecution Service regarding former deputy Hooijmaaijers shows that he allegedly received airline tickets to Romania and Turkey from JVG Real Estate. The Committee found no documents such as tickets or travel reports during its investigation. However, there is an expense report from Hooijmaaijers for a taxi ride in Istanbul (amount: 3.28 euros). It was also established that an official at the time refused to accompany former deputy Hooijmaaijers because, in his opinion, there was no relationship between the travel purpose and the Province of North Holland. Another official did accompany him. This person is no longer employed by the province but has transitioned to the real estate sector.”

The report was subsequently published on the website of the Province of North Holland.

This recording by the Committee suggests that JVG Real Estate has gifted airline tickets to Mr. Hooijmaaijers, with the intent to influence Mr. Hooijmaaijers in his capacity as deputy to act in favor of JVG Real Estate and/or its then-director, Mr. C.G. de Jager, to do or refrain from doing something (bribery).  For JVG Real Estate, this was also a reason to inform the Executive Board as early as 2013, supported by documents, that there is no basis for this suspicion/suggestion, and therefore it is factually incorrect. Ultimately, JVG Real Estate and Mr. C.G. de Jager were acquitted of involvement in the aforementioned irregularities.

The Executive Board deeply regrets that, despite being informed early by JVG Real Estate that there is no basis for the suspicion/suggestion included in the report, it allowed the report to remain unchanged for years, at least without further explanation regarding the unfounded suspicions against JVG Real Estate and/or Mr. C.G. de Jager, on the website of the Province of North Holland. The Executive Board has thereby shown no understanding of the possible consequences of the report for JVG Real Estate and Mr. C.G. de Jager and sincerely apologizes for this.