‘Ik vraag om mijn recht!’

Hoe de Zuiderzeesteunwet leidde tot spanningen rond de Broekerhaven

Samenvatting

The Zuiderzee Support Act of 1925 aimed to help people who lost their income as a result of the closure of the Zuiderzee rebuild their livelihoods. Despite its social purpose, the law caused considerable dissatisfaction among those it sought to support. This article explores why the Zuiderzee Support Act failed to function as intended. Based on the archival records of a single fishing community around the West Frisian Broekerhaven, it examines the local application of the law and the tensions it produced. Correspondence between applicants and the responsible government agencies shows a clear mismatch in expectations regarding the law’s intentions. However, frustration was primarily caused by its implementation, which proved overly bureaucratic and complex, and showed little empathy towards those seeking support. The findings highlight inefficiencies in the law’s application, which resulted in experiences of despair and resentment among the affected people.