Due to a malfunction at the Sint-Jan parking garage in Den Bosch, car owners were unable to enter or leave the garage for 3.5 hours on Sunday afternoon. The fire alarm went off at around a quarter to three, announcing that everyone had to leave the garage. Then the iron shutters between the different parking decks closed. The fire brigade had to saw open the roller shutters with a grinder. It wasn’t until around a quarter past six that the first cars drove out of the garage.
The parking garage was almost full. On Sunday morning, the Vestingloop was organized in Den Bosch, attracting hundreds of visitors and runners. Part of the city center was closed off because of the running race, so many people parked in the Sint-Jangarage.
There was no fire, according to the municipality. It is unclear why the alarm went off. Car owners who spoke to Omroep Brabant suspected that it may be a carbon monoxide alarm, because dozens of people started their cars at the same time after the Vestingloop was finished.
“My son had accompanied me. He wanted to go home. I just picked him up from Boxtel. My daughter-in-law stayed there and is waiting until she can pick up her car,” says Anita.
She talks about poor communication. “No one could tell exactly what was going on. There was no point of contact either. After 45 minutes a few boas arrived.”
Hours waiting for car
On the square near the parking garage, car owners waited all afternoon until they could get back to their car. Some of the victims went into the city center to visit the terrace or the shops.
The mechanic couldn’t get the shutters up either. The fire brigade sawed open all shutters, a considerable expense. Around a quarter past six the first cars drove out of the garage.
Free parking
The municipality says that no one has to pay a parking fee. It is not yet known whether additional costs incurred will also be reimbursed. For example, by victims who took a taxi or were picked up,