Thursday,
14 May 2026 - 07:42
Police
water cannon ends latest anti-asylum riot in Loosdrecht; "Terrorism,"
VNG says
The
police used a water cannon to end the latest anti-asylum protest at the town
hall in Loosdrecht on Wednesday evening. Protesters again threw dangerous
fireworks at the police. Four people were arrested. The Association of Dutch
Municipalities (VNG) wants an urgent meeting with the Cabinet regarding the
anti-asylum riots, speaking of “forms of terrorism and intimidation.”
The
anti-asylum protest started relatively peacefully at a designated location near
the town hall, where the municipality opened a temporary emergency asylum
shelter. Later in the evening, demonstrators started throwing fireworks at cops
again, and the riot police intervened. The riot police used a water cannon to
disperse the protesters. Four people were arrested.
The riot
police had positioned themselves in such a way that the protesters could not
reach the town hall, where 15 asylum seekers have been staying since this week.
On Tuesday, protesters set fire to the bushes next to the building, with the
asylum seekers and several COA employees inside, and blocked firefighters from
reaching the blaze. The situation last night was “very unsettled,” but not as
extreme as on Tuesday, a police spokesperson told NOS.
After
Tuesday’s fire, the municipality of Wijdemeren, which covers Loosdrecht,
implemented strict measures to prevent recurrence and keep the people in the
asylum shelter safe. Only people with “a demonstrably reasonable purpose” are
currently allowed to visit the town hall, and gatherings are prohibited in a
larger area around the building. Face-covering clothing is banned near the
building, and the police can stop and search people in the area.
The VNG
has requested an urgent meeting with the central government to discuss the
riots in Loosdrecht and other places in the Netherlands, including IJsselstein,
Den Bosch, and Apeldoorn. Consultation is needed to determine “which additional
measures are necessary to prevent further escalation, maintain the feasibility
of the reception task, and support municipalities,” the VNG said.
Municipalities
are taking responsibility and housing asylum seekers at the Cabinet’s request,
the umbrella association said. In return, they are “increasingly confronted
with intimidation, threats, violence, and organized disruptions.” The VNG spoke
of “forms of terrorism and intimidation.”
According
to the VNG, this calls for measures. Municipalities and the police are reaching
their limits.
Asylum
Minister Bart van den Brink (CDA) received the municipalities’ request during a
debate on the asylum policy. He said that “contact is being made in the
background and that the meeting will be scheduled.”
Several
parliamentarians endorsed the VNG’s call during the debate, including Lisa
Wsterveld of GroenLinks-PvdA, soon to be PRO. “Municipalities are increasingly
seeing escalations; they are running up against their limits.” National
politicians need to stand behind the local authorities, she said.
Earlier
this week, Van den Brink announced that the intelligence agency AIVD was
investigating the anti-asylum riots to determine whether they involved more
“organization” than just upset locals who want to voice their concerns. There
have been reports of far-right organizations pushing and escalating the
protests.
Reporting
by ANP and NL Time
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