There were further demonstrations against the arrival of asylum seekers in Loosdrecht on Wednesday evening. The municipality had previously announced an emergency ordinance to prevent disorder. However, the police had to use a water cannon and the Mobile Unit (ME) was deployed.
About a hundred to two hundred people gathered with flags and speakers. The atmosphere was pleasant for a long time, although the police had to announce that face-covering clothing and torches were prohibited.
The atmosphere changed around 10 p.m. when demonstrators set off heavy fireworks. That was also thrown at officers. They were then ordered to leave. When that didn’t happen, the police used a water cannon. The riot police were also on line. The demonstration was thus disbanded. Four people were arrested, says police chief Yvonne Hondema Pauw & De Wit.
The municipality imposed strict restrictions on the announced demonstration. The mayor is forced to do this after previous protests at the town hall in Loosdrecht got completely out of hand. That happened on Tuesday evening, when a fire was set in a bush near the town hall. A number of refugees are accommodated there. Officials and bystanders were also seriously insulted and threatened, the municipality said.
To prevent new disorder, the demonstrators were only allowed to sit in a designated area at the Molenmeent.
