There was renewed unrest in Loosdrecht on Wednesday during a demonstration against emergency asylum reception. Around 9:45 p.m., demonstrators threw heavy fireworks at the police and left the assigned section. The police are using water cannon to restore order, a spokesperson for the Central Netherlands unit confirms.
The municipality had restrictions previously imposed for the demonstration, including a designated demonstration area. On video footage on social media you can see how the Mobile Unit uses a water cannon, after which two demonstrators hide behind a tree. Fireworks explode behind them.
Just half an hour before that, the atmosphere changed, as can be seen in the images. “Fuck off!” a man shouts as he walks towards the police with his finger raised, “listen!” In the background, demonstrators shout: “AZC, get rid of it.”
The police had called in a large number of officers on Wednesday after a protest a day earlier turned into riots. Protesters threw flaming torches and fireworks at the partly vacant town hall, causing forests to catch fire. The meter-high flames just avoided the reception location.
The fire brigade was then hindered by the crowd. The Mobile Unit cleared the area later that evening. The police arrested three suspects, including a man (28) from Huizen and two minors from Kortenhoef and Amersfoort. They will be brought before the examining magistrate on Friday.
Before Wednesday, the mayor of Wijdemeren had issued an emergency ordinance and designated the area around the emergency shelter in Loosdrecht as a safety risk area. The measures apply until Saturday, with the possibility of extension if the situation so requires.
Access restrictions apply to part of the area. Additional measures are in force throughout the area. For example, it is prohibited to bring objects that could disrupt order, such as sticks, stones or fireworks. Wearing face-covering clothing that hinders identification is also not permitted.
Add fuel to the fire
The House of Representatives debated the asylum protests in the country on Wednesday. PVV split Gidi Marzushower called on Dutch people for “democratic and non-violent resistance”, which brought him strong criticism from other parties.
He also lashed out at the acting mayor of Loosdrecht, who, according to him, mainly wanted to impress his “elite friends” by providing emergency shelter for asylum seekers in the village. Other far-right politicians, such as FVD leader Lideweij de Vos and Mona Keijzer (formerly BBB), also interfered with the reception in the village.
Minister of Asylum and Migration Bart van den Brink (CDA) said on Wednesday that he believes it is also up to politicians to ensure that peace returns. “I think we all have an exemplary role,” said Van den Brink. “So in that sense I also expect everyone, politically and in society, to set standards and not add fuel to the fire.”
