After three evenings full of protest and arson, residents of the Coevorder Wijk Tuindorp received a hearing with the mayor. This afternoon, Renze Bergsma entered into conversation with residents, after another trailer went up in flames last night, this time together with a car on the Alderman Donkerstraat. The actions are directed against the arrival of minor status holders in the neighborhood.
“Apparently this is necessary, because so far the municipality has not paid us attention,” says resident Eiko De Blaauw this afternoon, pointing to the black fire damage on the street. “If we don’t ask for it, we are not invited.” The protest in the neighborhood focuses on the reception of young refugees aged 15 to 18 years. According to the municipality, it is about minor girls, but many residents do not believe that. They fear that boys come, which creates a sense of uncertainty.
“We know that only a small percentage of refugees consists of girls, and they are not here,” says De Blaauw. “That is why we fear that boys come, in always a changing composition. Then you always see other faces. They are often traumatized young people, and in such a group they are almost controlled.”
Tensions started months ago, when it became known that Tuindorp might become a reception location. The rumor spread quickly. “Until recently, people with a physical and mental disability lived in the block of houses. And suddenly the location was appointed for people with a refugee status.”
De Blaauw acknowledges that the incidents of recent days have gotten out of hand. “I don’t approve the arson, but I don’t reject it either. I understand that local residents grab certain means.”
This afternoon, Mayor Renze Bergsma unexpectedly appeared nearby. In the neighborhood building behind the block where the protests take place, he started a conversation with delivered local residents.
Whether the protests stop is unclear. According to De Blaauw, the conversations went in good, quiet atmosphere. “The mayor indicated that he wants to look further at the placement of the girls at the location in Tuindorp. He also said that he found the actions of the past days intimidating.” A spokesperson for the municipality of Coevorden announced yesterday that there were no plans to reconsider reception. The mayor himself does not want to respond to last night’s events and the conversation with the neighborhood.
Despite the arson and unrest, the police are not intervening for the time being. A spokesperson said earlier: “The fire was not a danger to the environment. We only occur when there is a direct, dangerous situation.”
Two weeks ago extra security cameras were placed in the neighborhood. Furthermore, no additional safety measures will be taken, the municipality reported Monday afternoon.