Primary school pulls out of Loosdrecht walking event over anti-asylum riots
A Hilversum primary school has decided to pull out of the Loosdrecht walking event Avondvierdaagse over the anti-asylum riots in the town. The principal of OBS Elckerlyc told parents in an email that the school no longer considers the atmosphere “festive enough” amid the tensions surrounding the asylum shelter, NH Nieuws reported.
The organizers of the Avondvierdaagse, an annual four-day walking event aimed primarily at children, have taken measures due to the anti-asylum riots at the emergency shelter in the partially vacant Wijdemeren town hall. Protesters have shown up at the building every evening for nearly a month. The protests escalated into riots several times, including rioters trying to set the building on fire with people inside last Tuesday.
Due to the unrest, the organizers have adjusted the walking route so that children would not walk past the town hall. They also urged parents not to let their children dress in clothing supporting or against sheltering asylum seekers.
According to Nick Homan, principal of OBS Elckerlyc, the organizers have taken measures to keep children safe, but the atmosphere is not in keeping with the character of the event. The management and parents’ council, therefore, decided to withdraw the 120 children from OBS Elckerlyc.
“The atmosphere remains grim, and a large police presence remains necessary,” he wrote in an email to parents. “We believe there should be a relaxed atmosphere. That is not entirely the case now.” The event is supposed to be fun for the participating children, not stressful or scary.
The children are disappointed, Homan noted. “The Avondvierdaagse is truly a highlight of the year. Many children find it very unfortunate that it is not going ahead now for adult reasons,” he said. At the same time, many children understand the decision, he added. “Children also watch the youth news and know what’s happening.”
The Violenschool faced the same dilemma, Sara Steenkamp, one of the parents organizing the school’s participation, told NH. The school decided to let its 230 children participate in the Avondvierdaagse tonight at least. “We mainly looked at safety and feel that it is guaranteed.” According to Steenkamp, the children have been looking forward to it for a long time. “We don’t want to disappoint them,” she said.
The school will monitor the situation closely. “After tonight, we will evaluate how it went, and we can always make a different choice for the rest of the week. But for now, we are mostly really looking forward to it.”
