The explosion in the chemical factory of Cindu in Uithoorn from thirty years ago is still very much on the minds of many people from Uithoorn, but also throughout the region. Also with older members of garden association Nesserlaan, on the south side of Amstelveen. “I saw eerie black smoke.”
It is 1989 when the now 84-year-old Rob Koolbergen founded the Nesserlaan garden association. When some three years later – on July 8, 1992 – the resin polymerization boiler on Cindu’s property explodes and three firefighters are killed, he is working in his garden. “Then we watched for a long time. Later we heard that Cindu had exploded.”
The disaster also had temporary consequences for the harvest, says Koolbergen in the video clip below. the text continues below the video.
Amstelveense horticulturist Rob Koolbergen about Cindu disaster – NH Nieuws
Some horticulturists only realize later what kind of drama is unfolding in their neighboring village. “I heard a bang, but I didn’t know what was going on,” says Ton Feldmann. “So I moved on to gardening.” When he saw the plumes of smoke, he knew something was seriously wrong.
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Amstelveense horticulturist Ton Feldmann about Cindu disaster – NH Nieuws
Bea Zuiderent was at home at the time of the disaster, but did not notice anything. Until her husband called to tell her about the explosion and to advise that the windows be closed.
She followed that advice, after which she decided to close the door behind her and take a look at the factory. “It was very busy.”
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Bea Zuiderent remembers Cindu disaster as if it were yesterday – NH Nieuws
Earthquake
Many Amstelveners also remember the disaster well outside the association, according to the reactions to the Facebook page of AAN!†
“It was like an earthquake,” one woman wrote. “I quickly grabbed the children and went outside.” Another writes that she found it ‘fearful’. “I remember it well: we had to pick up our children from school and keep them inside.”
Not only in Uithoorn and Amstelveen, but also in Amsterdam-Zuidoost and Diemen, the population was advised to close windows and doors. And not without reason: “Thick smoke passed over Amstelveen, accompanied by a stench”, according to a memory on Facebook.
commemoration
The disaster was commemorated yesterday morning at the cemetery on the Noordammerweg in the Kwakel. A commemorative plaque was also unveiled. That plaque was previously part of a wall of a building on the Cindu site, but has been stored somewhere since the site was dismantled.