Sales Proposal for the Ambachts- and Baljuwhuis Expected This Summer

The Voorschoten Municipal Executive expects to be able to present a proposal for the sale of the Ambachts- en Baljuwhuis between July and September. The Municipal Executive announced this in an informational letter to the city council. In doing so, the Municipal Executive is following the advice of a team of experts that was engaged for the sale. The extension gives all interested parties an equal opportunity to participate in the process and submit a well-reasoned plan. This proposal was originally scheduled for March 1, 2021.

The expert team is overseeing the public sale process. This team consists of three independent experts in the fields of law, economics, and cultural history, as well as a real estate agent with expertise in heritage. The sale will begin in mid-February with the publication of a bid book. This document outlines all the conditions that a potential bidder’s proposal must meet. These conditions are included to protect the Ambachts- en Baljuwhuis’s status as a national historic monument and its public function, while also enabling new development.

Two phases

The sales process is divided into two phases. In the first phase, parties may submit a preliminary proposal outlining their plan. This proposal must clearly demonstrate how the prospective buyer intends to address all the conditions set forth in the bid book. After this phase, an initial selection will be made. The most promising bids will be invited to further develop their plans in the second phase. This phase will be completed between July and September, depending on the number and quality of the plans.

Administrative Decision-Making Process

Based on the expert team’s recommendation, the municipal executive submits a proposal to the city council. The council then expresses any wishes or concerns it may have regarding the plan. The municipal executive subsequently decides whether or not to proceed with the sale. During the sale phase, Alderman Spil will replace Alderman Cramwinckel, who is currently responsible for this matter. In doing so, the municipal executive—acting on a proposal by Alderman Cramwinckel—aims to preemptively rule out any appearance of a conflict of interest, as Alderman Cramwinckel is a member of an organization that has previously expressed interest in the property.