City cleaners hard at work after busy King's Day with no major incidents
Overnight, municipal cleaners throughout the Netherlands started the massive job of cleaning up after King’s Day. The Netherlands enjoyed a sunny King’s Day on Monday, with crowds in the large cities and no major incidents. And, as always, the festivities came with mountains of trash.
King’s Day was relatively quiet this year. The weather was favorable, the atmosphere good, and there were few major incidents requiring intervention from the emergency services.
King Willem-Alexander and his family celebrated his 59th birthday in Dokkum. Approximately 21,000 people flocked to the Friesland town to watch the Royals immerse themselves in Frisian culture. Willem-Alexander spoke of an “unforgettable” day.
In the rest of the country, people flocked to flea markets and festivals. Several cities struggled with crowds in the afternoon, but none had to issue a general call to stay away, as happened during previous King’s Days. Amsterdam, Utrecht, Eindhoven, and Breda did issue calls to avoid certain spots.
The biggest incident reported so far was a stabbing shortly after the Kingsland festival at the Olympisch Stadion in Amsterdam. Two people were injured, and the police arrested one suspect.
The trains were also crowded, particularly those heading to and from cities hosting major events. But NS reported that the atmosphere in the trains was festive.
With the festivities over and everyone back at home, the Dutch municipalities immediately turned their attention to cleanup. Extermination services also issued warnings about trash left on the streets for an extended period. “Rats have a strong attraction to food and hiding places. The combination of a great deal of waste, and slower processing times after a busy holiday, creates the ideal conditions,” said Richard Piké, the owner of pest control firm Bestrijdingsdienst.
“Once pests have found a food source, they keep coming back. Even long after the waste has been cleaned up.”
AD spoke to Mike Slendebroek, a municipal cleaner in Arnhem. His day started at 4:00 a.m., immediately after the King’s Day festivities.
Partygoers lose all sorts of things during the King’s Day festivities, Mike said. Finding t-shirts, watches, and wallets is not uncommon. “The craziest things I’ve found are a used condom and a vibrator,” Mike said. He and his team also encounter people who aren’t done partying yet. “They sometimes try to open the door of the sweeper when I’m working. Then they want a ride.”
“At 8:00 a.m., we all get together again for lunch,” Mike said. His after-King’s Day shift typically ends around noon. He doesn’t mind the long hours. “When I know I’m leaving something good behind, it gives me energy.”
