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Langeweg, Moerdijk, and Zevenbergschen Hoek

Moerdijk, Zevenbergschen Hoek, and Langeweg are collaborating on a long-term plan for the transition to sustainable energy, as well as on specific projects to make homes more energy-efficient. A portion of the revenue generated by the wind turbines next to the A16 will be used for these projects.

The wind turbines in the Moerdijk, Zevenbergschen Hoek, and Langeweg areas have been operating since 2023. All three of these villages are entitled to a share of the revenue generated by the turbines. That money may be spent on projects that help the villages and their residents make the transition to sustainable energy.

Agreements have been made regarding the process: how do we develop the plans? These agreements are set forth in the PDF file titled “WUP MZL Process Plan.” You can also find the key points of this process plan in the PDF file titled “Brief Summary.”

New Energy

Residents of Moerdijk, Zevenbergschen Hoek, and Langeweg have launched the process for the heating transition in these villages. This means they are working together to make the switch to sustainable energy for heating and hot water. The residents are doing this in partnership with, among others, the Moerdijk Energy Transition Foundation (STEM), Energiek Moerdijk, the municipality, housing authorities, and representatives from the Village Councils. The partnership is called “Nieuwe Energie” and informs residents via its own website about how the funds generated by the wind turbines are being spent.

For more information, visit:

The following residents from the villages are involved:

  • Moerdijk: Ad Hulten, Corné van Leest, Bertie de Leeuw.
  • Zevenbergschen Hoek: Robert Fennema, Albert van Loon, Gert Suur, Fred van Weverwijk, Theo van Oosterhout. Tijn Nuyens joins them on behalf of Energiek Moerdijk.
  • Langeweg: Mart Scheepers, Theo Schouwenaars.

Would you like to contribute your ideas and help with our projects and plans? Sign up by sending an email to one of the email addresses listed below.

Update: April 2025

Every household in Moerdijk, Zevenbergschen Hoek, and Langeweg will receive a 2,000-euro voucher. The Nieuwe Energie partnership is organizing drop-in sessions in the three villages. During these meetings, residents will receive information on how to use the credit. The credit is intended to help make their homes more sustainable. In each village, there are “Energy Buddies” who are helping their fellow villagers.

Energy is generated by 28 wind turbines along the A16. Seven of these turbines are located within the municipality of Moerdijk. A quarter of the revenue generated by these seven turbines is invested in local energy projects. The turbines are expected to operate for 25 years.

1. Who receives money from the wind turbines in Moerdijk?

First up are Langeweg, Zevenbergschen Hoek, and the village of Moerdijk. These villages are referred to as the “wind hubs” because they are located closest to the wind turbines. In addition to bearing the “burdens,” they will also reap the “benefits.” In the longer term, a decision may be made to allow residents of other areas within Moerdijk to benefit from the wind turbine revenue as well, but that depends on the agreements reached within the wind fund. STEM (Moerdijk Energy Transition Foundation) manages the fund, which is governed and audited by local residents.Visit the STEM website. (opens in a new tab) 

2. Do residents of the wind energy communities receive the money directly into their bank accounts?

No, that’s not possible. When the wind turbines were built, agreements were made regarding this. One of those agreements is that the money generated by the wind turbines must be spent on projects that make the villages more sustainable. These can be projects for the entire village at once, but they can also include smaller initiatives that make homes more energy-efficient. Examples include insulation for poorly insulated homes, an initiative involving solar panels or home batteries, or a voucher for energy-efficient appliances. An overview of the agreements regarding how the funds may be spent is available onthe STEM website (opens in a new tab). 

3. The windmills have been there for a while—why hasn't any money been paid out yet?

First, the cost of building the wind turbines must be repaid. Simply put, the residents of the municipality of Moerdijk borrowed money through the province of North Brabant (Energiefonds Brabant) to build 25% of the wind turbines. That loan must be repaid from the revenue generated by the turbines. As a result, it will take some time before funds become available for local projects. Since the residents of Moerdijk, Zevenbergschen Hoek, and Langeweg are already experiencing the “burdens” of the wind turbines but have not yet reaped the “benefits,” efforts have been made to determine how funds can be made available as quickly as possible for projects that will benefit residents. The first projects are expected to begin in 2025.

4. Do the wind farms pay for their own energy transition, while the other villages receive money from the municipality?

No, the revenue from the wind turbines is in addition to the funds that the government (municipality, province, national government) invests in the energy transition. Residents of the wind farm areas are entitled to the same benefits as other residents of Moerdijk, but they also receive additional perks (such as local projects) or have to invest less themselves in the transition to renewable energy, thanks to the revenue from the wind turbines.

For more information about the wind turbines, visit theEnergie A16 website (opens in a new tab).

Specific Projects (Track 1)

The revenue from the wind turbines is spent in two ways: in the long term, to support the transition to renewable energy, but also on projects from which residents can benefit in the short term (Track 1).

People’s situations vary: some live in newly built homes, others in old houses on the dike; some have savings, others do not. In our plans, we want to take all these people into account and help them with what they need so they can connect to future energy systems. Everyone should be able to participate, regardless of their (financial) situation.

At Spoor 1, we come up with specific projects for this purpose, such as community insulation projects. Residents help decide which projects to pursue.

Outlook

The first projects are expected to begin in early 2025. A budget of €3,168,000 is available through 2030, which amounts to about €2,000 per home. Further details will be posted on this website as they become available.

Wind Farm Implementation Plan (Track 2)

In addition to the short-term projects (Track 1), we are working on the heating transition for Langeweg, Zevenbergschen Hoek, and Moerdijk-dorp: the shift to sustainable energy in the future. How we will make that transition is outlined in a Windkernen Implementation Plan (WUP).

For the second part of the plan, we are determining which new heating system is best suited to replace natural gas for future heating and hot water needs. The core team is supported in this effort by a team of experts who are assisting with the research and decision-making process.