Hoogeveen municipality officials are under threat for removing inverted Dutch flags from municipal properties such as lampposts and traffic lights. Hundreds of flags hang in various places in Hoogeveen. These are a symbol of the peasant protest.
The city says it takes the threats very seriously. “In all cases we will contact the police,” a spokeswoman said. She would not say anything about the nature of the threats and how many people are involved.
Hoogeveen asked the flag hangers last week to clean up the tricolor. If this does not happen, they will be removed by municipal employees. This already led to an incident on Raadhuisplein last week, in which some employees of the municipality were said to have been verbally abused. The clearing of the flags was subsequently discontinued.
The removed flags are kept at the town hall. Rightful owners can pick up their belongings there.