Almelo station ranked among most unsafe in Netherlands, city plans action
Almelo’s main train station ranks among the top three most unsafe stations in the Netherlands. State Secretary Thierry Aartsen for Public Transport and Environment recently highlighted the station as a priority for national safety initiatives.
“We are also in favor of quick measures and have ideas about this,” VVD councilor Ger Vermeulen told RTV Oost. “We would like to know whether the state secretary already has a concrete plan and what it looks like. And whether the municipal council is aware of it.”
The Dutch government has earmarked 20 million euros to improve safety at stations where it is most needed, though how much of that funding will go specifically to Almelo remains unclear. “That money cannot come fast enough,” Vermeulen said, noting the slow pace of political processes.
The city has already taken preliminary steps. In early September, Mayor Korteland issued a restricted-area order targeting troublemakers in and around the station. Vermeulen said further improvements are needed, including better lighting from the bus station to the Java parking garage and in other dark spots.
Vermeulen also identified structural concerns, including a narrow, divided rail tunnel under the station, small platforms, inadequate access to the platforms, and the absence of gates for entering and exiting. “The tunnel should not be split in two, and the platforms and stairways need to be widened,” he said.
Safety concerns extend beyond the station. The municipality has also faced incidents of vandalism, aggressive behavior, and drug dealing in the city center. Security cameras have been installed at multiple locations this year to address these issues.
