Illegal rave shut down in Groningen; newborn seal pup found on site, now named "Rave"
Police shut down an illegal rave early Saturday morning in a field along the Eems River near Valgenweg in the Groningen village of Termunterzijl after the event escalated during the night. According to AD, more than 100 people were in attendance.
The party began around midnight, and dozens of cars and campers quickly gathered at the site. When the first police units arrived, they were pelted with objects, according to a witness. Authorities escalated the response to GRIP 1 and deployed special units, including riot police (Mobiele Eenheid) and the Support Group (Ondersteuningsgroep).
By 4 a.m., riot police and support teams were on the scene, with a police helicopter monitoring the area from above. Attendees who wished to leave voluntarily were allowed to do so, while newcomers were turned away.
The rave was fully shut down by 6 a.m., with attendees complying and even helping clean up the site. By 8 a.m., the field was cleared. Firefighters used a drone to check for remaining individuals but found none. One police vehicle was smeared with red wine, and the mayor of Eemsdelta visited the site to speak with officers. The evacuation ended without further incident.
While clearing the area at Otterdunnerpier, riot police discovered a newborn seal pup, later named Rave, crawling between parked cars. The animal, a female, was taken in by the Pieterburen seal center in Lauwersoog. “The pup still had a navel cord, so it had just been born,” the center reported. According to the seal center, some rave attendees had reportedly carried the animal around during the party.
The pup is believed to be two to four days old. The seal’s mother may have fled because of the loud music and crowds, the center said. Earlier that night, the animal rescue service had received a call from “shouting and partying people” about the pup, but it had referred them to the seal center, which had not yet been contacted at the time. Rave will be released back into the sea after several months of care.
