Violent threats force cancellation of asylum seekers’ Christmas swim

Update, 2:05 p.m., 25 December 2015: Ede mayor Cees van der Knaap will be meeting with the COA next week to arrange for another date for the swim day to take place. The swimming pool still wants to organize the event The agency for the reception of asylum seekers COA cancelled a trip to a pool in Ede for 140 to 150 asylum seekers at the last minute after a threatening letter sent to a local newspaper, broadcaster NOS reports. The asylum seekers would have been allowed to use the pool for a day of swimming, but according to a spokesperson for the COA the day had to be cancelled after advice from various sides. He stressed that it was not an easy decision to make. A letter was sent to local paper Edese Post in which the writer warns that Geldermalsen-like situations will happen in Ede. In Geldermalsen protests against the arrival of an asylum center degenerated into riots last week. The writer also complains that he pays for "expensive swimming lessons" for his children, while refugees get to use the pool for free. On Twitter, Ede Mayor Cees van der Knaap stated that he does not know anything about this matter. "Ridiculous, a nice initiative undone." He also tweeted that he will contact he COA to arrange for a different date. The pool in question, De Peppel, is run by Sportservice Ede. Chairman Jan Scions is disappointed that the day could not go through. The initiative for the outing came from the pool's staff. "We are proud of our people and sorry that we are now restricted", he said to the broadcaster.