ASML’s rapid growth affects many people in Veldhoven. To expand further, the chip machine manufacturer has already bought houses and sports and event halls. GroenLinks/PvdA is now the first party in Veldhoven to express its concerns.
“People wonder whether the municipality still has control.”
The purchase of sports halls and a playground has created a stir among residents, says GroenLinks/PvdA group leader Wessel Mandos. “In Veldhoven, the prevailing image is that ASML is buying everything. This purchase has deeply affected the people in Veldhoven.”
It’s only January, but ASML has already purchased a trampoline park, sports hall, playground, tennis courts and an event. So, people are left wondering what’s in store for the rest of the year. These are places where Veldhoven residents go for a children’s party, to play sports or to visit an event. “Now it’s getting close. First, it was business premises. Now it is facilities and residential homes.”
To assure
According to the group chairman, these are the concerns of an average Veldhoven resident. “We often talk about the tightness in the housing market. About the people who cannot find a home. About maintaining the level of facilities. If ASML expands and buys up facilities and homes and then builds business premises there, it will affect the residents of Veldhoven. It’s getting through to people now.”
Mandos was born and raised in Veldhoven. He certainly also sees the successes of ASML and the advantages of the company. “I don’t have an anti-ASML story. I think they can grow as long as it is balanced.” According to him, that balance may already be lost. According to Mandos, politicians must consider the ‘dark sides’ of growth because ASML’s growth raises questions. “The question in Veldhoven is whether ASML has become too big. The purchases also raise many questions. Whether we as a municipality are still in control.”
Expansion
On Wednesday, it was announced that the company made almost 8 billion euros in profit last year, which was still around 5.5 billion in 2022. The company wants to grow further. ASML CEO Peter Wennink indicated that he may want to expand abroad if the number of migrant workers here is limited.
Party chairman Mandos was on the edge of his seat. “It makes it clear that Wennink and ASML have a clear vision for the future. They want to grow here and, if that is not possible, somewhere else. That makes it even more important for a local government to have a vision about how you see this in Veldhoven.”
Buying instinct
The buying urge of ASML in Veldhoven is great. Last year, the company purchased 38 properties in the municipality, including a whole row of thirteen residential houses. This year, the urge to expand led to purchasing properties about the size of five football fields.
“People wonder whether the municipality still has control. Or we decide what is or is not possible. Or that ASML carries out its plans and we respond accordingly. We have to have that discussion in politics.”
Village changes
Veldhoven has almost 47,000 inhabitants. The village changes because of the purchases. Places where residents walk their dogs will soon no longer be freely accessible. With the latest purchase from ASML, the Padel association The Padellers will also disappear. The club is disappointed that no other suitable location has been found in Veldhoven and is therefore continuing in Valkenswaard.
The local politics of Veldhoven decide on a global player like ASML. “The stakes are high. It is quite remarkable that we, as a medium-sized municipality, determine how large ASML can become. ASML is located here; we can be proud of that, but local interests must not be overlooked. Veldhoven must not become a victim.”
Think it over
The municipality should think carefully about a vision for Veldhoven, Mandos believes. That is why he submitted a request to the mayor and aldermen. Mandos himself is the faction leader of a party that co-governs Veldhoven.
“There must be an economic vision about the growth of ASML and the well-being of the residents. The municipality has no vision, so we react afterwards to ASML’s plans instead of being in the driver’s seat ourselves. Perhaps we should have had that discussion earlier, but now you see that it is starting to hurt.”
Source: Studio040
Balance is the keyword here!
So, why am I not surprised, to see this critical piece on ASML and it growing, close on the heels of their CEO warning about the economic consequences of our big populist parties ideas on migration?
Maybe I need my coffee….to wake up..
Concerns? About Shell, Unilever, Schiphol, Asml? Left-wingers should know that these companies earn our money to pay bills, social security , our welfare et cetera.
Possibly you are not aware of the upheaval caused by the departure of Philips from Eindhoven. With so many suplliers being dependent on only one company forced out of business, Eindhoven basically had to reinvent itself. Once bitten, twice shy, perhaps.