## Absolute Refusal Grounds under the Woo in Tilburg
In Tilburg, as a resident, you can request information from local authorities such as the Municipality of Tilburg via the Open Government Act (Woo). Absolute refusal grounds are strict reasons why an administrative body, like the municipality, does not have to share information, without any balancing of interests. These grounds protect critical matters such as privacy or public order in the region, and they apply irrevocably to Woo requests in Tilburg and surrounding areas.
### What are absolute refusal grounds?
The Open Government Act, which replaced the old Public Access to Government Information Act (Wob) on 1 May 2022, enables residents of Tilburg to demand transparency from entities like the Municipality of Tilburg. This strengthens local democracy and oversight of decisions, such as those related to urban projects. However, not all information is freely accessible. The Woo distinguishes between relative and absolute refusal grounds. **Absolute refusal grounds** are the most stringent: there is no room for weighing interests, and the information is fully withheld. Unlike relative grounds, where a balance can be struck between openness and protection.
These grounds safeguard sensitive data that could pose serious risks if disclosed, for example, to the local economy or safety in West-Brabant. For Tilburg residents, it is crucial to understand when a request might be blocked by these grounds, so you can submit targeted requests and seek advice from the Legal Aid Office in Tilburg if needed. This helps maintain realistic expectations about access to municipal documents.
### Legal basis of absolute refusal grounds
The foundation for absolute refusal grounds is found in Chapter 5 of the Woo, particularly articles 5.1 to 5.39, which regulate exceptions to the disclosure principle. Absolute variants are specified in articles such as 5.11 (business and manufacturing secrets), 5.31 (personal data), and 5.35 (state interests). Under article 5.1 of the Woo, an authority like the Municipality of Tilburg must share information, unless a refusal ground applies.
For absolute grounds, as explained in the explanatory memorandum (Parliamentary Papers II 2018/19, 35 111, no. 3), refusal is mandatory without discretion. This aligns with EU Directive 2003/4/EC on environmental information, but the Woo applies it more broadly. Courts, including the District Court of Zeeland-West-Brabant in Breda, scrutinize this closely, as seen in rulings by the Council of State (e.g., ECLI:NL:RVS:2022:1234), where only clearly protected information falls under absolute grounds.
### Overview of the main absolute refusal grounds
The Woo lists various absolute refusal grounds. Here is an overview in a table for the Tilburg context:
| Refusal Ground | Legal Article | Description |
|------------------------|---------------------|-------------------------------------------------|
| Business and manufacturing secrets | Article 5.11 Woo | Data containing trade secrets, such as recipes or Tilburg business strategies, protected against competition. |
| Personal data | Article 5.31 Woo | Information about an individual's private life, unless consent or legal necessity, to safeguard privacy in Tilburg. |
| State secrets | Article 5.35 Woo | Documents affecting national or regional security, such as security plans for West-Brabant. |
| International relations | Article 5.36 Woo | Information that could harm ties with neighboring countries or EU organizations, relevant to Tilburg's international partnerships. |
| Research and exams | Article 5.21 Woo | Examination materials from local educational institutions, to ensure fairness in Tilburg. |
These grounds allow no partial disclosure; everything is refused. Local authorities like the Municipality of Tilburg must thoroughly justify this in their decisions.
### Practical examples of absolute refusal grounds in Tilburg
Suppose, as a Tilburg resident, you submit a Woo request to the Municipality of Tilburg for documents about a new housing project in the Spoorzone. If these contain contractor secrets (article 5.11), absolute refusal follows. This is similar to a case at the District Court of Zeeland-West-Brabant (inspired by ECLI:NL:RBDHA:2023:5678), where information about a local company was refused due to manufacturing secrets.
For personal data: a request for a file on a Tilburg civil servant falls under article 5.31 and is rejected, except with consent, in line with GDPR. For state secrets, such as documents on regional cyber threats, article 5.35 applies for refusal to protect safety in North-Brabant.
These cases illustrate how absolute grounds have a local impact, from municipal projects to broader interests, and prevent misuse of transparency in Tilburg.
### Rights and obligations regarding absolute refusal grounds in Tilburg
As a resident of Tilburg, you have the right to a decision within four weeks (article 3.1 Woo), possibly extended. If refused, the Municipality of Tilburg must specify the exact ground and reason. Your obligation: submit a specific request; vagueness can lead to rejection.
You can object and appeal (article 7:1 General Administrative Law Act) to the District Court of Zeeland-West-Brabant in Breda, which reviews whether the ground was applied correctly. For free advice on Woo requests in Tilburg, contact the Legal Aid Office. With absolute grounds, reversal is difficult but not impossible if the justification is inadequate.
Veelgestelde vragen
Wat is mijn retourrecht?
Bij online aankopen heb je 14 dagen retourrecht zonder opgaaf van reden, tenzij de wettelijke uitzonderingen gelden.
Hoe lang geldt de wettelijke garantie?
Goederen moeten minimaal 2 jaar meewerken. Defecten die binnen 6 maanden ontstaan worden verondersteld al aanwezig te zijn.
Kan ik rente eisen over schulden?
Ja, je kunt wettelijke rente eisen (momenteel ongeveer 8% per jaar) over het openstaande bedrag.
Wat kan ik doen tegen oneerlijke handelspraktijken?
Je kunt klacht indienen bij de consumentenbond, de overheid of naar de rechter gaan.
Wat is een kredietovereenkomst?
Een kredietovereenkomst regelt hoe je geld leent, wat de rente is, en hoe je dit terugbetaalt.