How the Oosterpark riots and Koen Schuiling killed mayor Hans Ouwerkerk of Groningen: ‘Once something was not seen’

Mayor Hans Ouwerkerk of Groningen announces his farewell in the town hall. He is flanked by deputy mayor Willem Smink (l) and municipal clerk Arie Wink. Photo: Archive Jan Zeeman

It is the evening of January 28, 1998. The council chamber of the Groningen city hall is a media circus. National camera crews crowd the door. Photographers fight for the most favorable positions. The Grote Markt is the center of the Netherlands for a while. Everyone wants to know if Hans Ouwerkerk is still mayor of Groningen after this evening.

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