In the Netherlands, it has become a worrying phenomenon: more and more houses are sinking into the ground. They start by cracking. A situation linked to repeated droughts. One million buildings would be affected. And homeowners feel abandoned by insurance companies that are not obligated to compensate them.
In the heart of the Dutch countryside, Erwin and Hilde Hoenderdos had lived peacefully for over 20 years, but in recent months the house has become a nightmare. Every month cracks appear in the house. The house cracks everywhere because it sinks into the ground. In the entrance hall, the gap between the slab and the parquet leaves no room for doubt. “At the beginning, it was at the same level and now it’s gone down by five centimeters”, testify Hilde Hoenderdos.
As a result of this sagging, the walls become detached from each other, the weight of the floors becomes heavier and heavier and the doors do not even close. In the Netherlands, a million homes are threatened by this phenomenon. The couple brought in experts and the culprits are the wooden poles supporting the house. They have become out of use over the years. “We are worried, we do not know our future”, adds Hilde, worried.