Someone who pinches your buttocks without asking or shouts after you as if you are a woman of easy virtue, that is what we call inappropriate behavior. And this does not only happen in the business world or by famous Dutch people. It also occurs regularly during carnival. “We always see a peak in the number of reports in the month of February,” says Eline Kouwenberg of Bo Diversity in Breda.
The organization Bo Diversity, together with the municipality of Breda, created the Intimideermijniet.nl reporting point in 2021. Together they wanted to map out how big the problem is and in which places people are being harassed.
“We start working on reports that are made. For example, we can provide better lighting in places where a lot is happening. We also talk to catering entrepreneurs, the police and the municipality,” says Kouwenberg.
In 2023, 86 people reported harassment in Breda and the surrounding area. “But in reality it happens ten times as much. Only a small number of victims actually report it.”
According to Kouwenberg, they always see a peak around February. “We see more reports at large events with a festive character: having fun together and completely away from God, such as carnival.”
“Carnival is really a party where you can let loose. But it also has a dark side.”
The catering industry is also alert to inappropriate behavior in the pub. “Carnival is known in the rest of the country as a party where everything is possible and everything is allowed, but we see it differently,” says Breda operator Johan de Vos (also chairman of Royal Horeca Netherlands, Breda department).
De Vos also points out the reporting point and during carnival in Breda there are ‘hosts’ to whom people who have been harassed can go. “They walk on the street in white coats. You can tell your story to them. They also call for help if necessary. But you can also contact employees of the pub.”
According to Kouwenberg, people are often shouted at, chased and checked in public spaces. “But in nightlife you see more unwanted touching, such as grabbing breasts in the crotch. Carnival is a lot of fun, a real party where you can let loose. But it also has a dark side.”
During Carnival, more resources are used and everyone goes through life more or less anonymously. “No one sees you as a perpetrator, no one recognizes you in your carnival costume. But alcohol and drugs are not causes, research shows that these substances mainly strengthen.”
“Just stay away from everyone if there is no clear permission.”
According to Kouwenberg, the cause of transgressive behavior lies mainly in group behavior and learned behavior, especially among men. “It mainly occurs in environments where a macho culture prevails and where traditional division of roles predominates with ‘the man as hunter’.”
Bo Diversity has distributed extra flyers in Breda for carnival. There is a poster of the reporting center on every toilet in the Breda catering industry. “So people can find us if they need to.” De Vos also has a tip for people who go a little too wild during carnival and want to squeeze the cats in the dark.
“Just stay away from everyone if there is no clear permission. And don’t think that when you come by train from Rotterdam or Utrecht that you will end up in a region where everything is possible and allowed, because it doesn’t work that way.”
All in all, for De Vos, carnival remains the best party there is. “And of course there are people who go beyond their limits, but we are alert to that. For the rest, it will simply be a great party.”