A complex area

In the decade before 2000, a lot of regulations were defined nationally, stating which types of activities are allowed in residential areas. More specifically, in the wake of the Enschede disaster, new regulations were drafted for fireworks storage. The required distance to residential areas was increased (doubled) and the amounts of fireworks people are allowed to store was limited.

The local government did not have a clear picture of what went on in the old industrial buildings, nor were they very active in checking on permits. Some of the buildings were abandoned and slowly falling apart, like the one in this picture which was fenced off. In 2000 the Thole company was still running its bussiness next door to SE Fireworks, as well as the big Grolsch brewery nearby.

All in all by 2000 Roombeek was an unusually complex area, due to the mix of activities. The area was slowly moving towards a state where some sort of reconstruction would be inevitable. The disaster was a macabre wake up call nobody expected.