Resident battles dike-building authorities over compensation

SLIEDRECHT – A resident who took issue with his municipality over the compensation for a part of his property for the purpose of widening the adjoining dike, has lost his case in court. While the purchase had been agreed upon, the parties disagreed over the level of compensation for other damages caused by the widening project. The authorities have been investing significant amounts in strengthening dikes along Dutch rivers to allow them to handle heavier runoffs from the European hinterlands.