I was somewhat surprized with the fog in Groningen upon my arrival. This is not the fog that covers the beautiful landscapes of the northern Netherlands in the evening and in the early morning. No… It is the fog that obscures the real aspects of the earthquake problem in the region and is crystallised …

Collapses of school or dormitory buildings experienced in recent earthquakes raise the issue of safety as a major challenge for decision makers. A school building is ‘just another structure’ technically speaking, however, the consequences of a collapse in an earthquake could lead to social reactions …