Ameland police report calm Sunneklaas amid heightened security
The Sunneklaas festival on Ameland proceeded with no major incidents Thursday night, despite heightened security measures and past tensions surrounding the event, according to the Noord-Nederland police unit.
"There have been no significant incidents so far," a police spokesperson said, describing the evening as peaceful overall. Mayor Leo Pieter Stoel added, "It’s a beautiful edition of our festival, despite the rain."
The Sunneklaas festival, a mysterious and exclusive tradition unique to the island of Ameland, incorporates elements of Sinterklaas and pre-Christian rituals. Men, dressed in costumes and masks, parade through villages while women and children are supposed to remain indoors. Outsiders are generally not welcome, adding an air of secrecy to the event.
Last week, authorities sent riot police units to the island in anticipation of potential unrest, following incidents during the 2023 festival. During that event, journalists from broadcaster PowNed were attacked, threatened, and pursued by local residents while attempting to report on Sunneklaas. No arrests were made at the time, but two men are now being prosecuted for public violence and threats stemming from the incident.
PowNed journalists were present again this year, filming for a report on the festival. According to PowNed, the atmosphere on Thursday night was "more tense than Wednesday, but work could be done." However, Mayor Stoel disputed claims of tension, stating, "Amelanders have ignored the PowNed journalists and carried on with their traditions." He acknowledged that the festival’s masked participants and use of cowhorns could appear intimidating to outsiders but maintained that reporters were neither harassed nor prevented from working.
"It’s possible that a rude comment was made, but as far as I know, the journalists were not hindered in their activities," Stoel said.
The Noord-Nederland Public Prosecution Service (OM) has launched a criminal investigation into remarks made on the YouTube channel RoddelPraat. On Wednesday, presenter Jan Roos encouraged Ameland residents to "kick journalists off the island" and made inflammatory comments about using violence to deter reporters.
"Finish them off. Shoot them down before they even get off the boat," Roos said during the broadcast. The OM has characterized these statements as potentially inciting violence, especially in light of last year’s attacks on PowNed journalists. Roos has been questioned by authorities, who underscored their zero-tolerance stance on violence or incitement surrounding the event.
"It must be clear to everyone that encouraging violence, particularly after last year’s incidents, will not be tolerated by the police and the OM," the prosecution service stated.
The Sunneklaas festival remains an enigmatic and controversial celebration. While residents view it as a private tradition for islanders, critics have labeled it as exclusionary and, at times, misogynistic. The event’s rituals, which include masked men roaming the streets while women stay indoors, have drawn both fascination and criticism from outsiders.
Mayor Stoel defended the festival, emphasizing its cultural significance to Ameland. "This is how the tradition is written," he said, referring to the costumes and horn-blowing activities.
The police confirmed that their increased presence on the island will remain until the festival concludes.
