Thousands participate in silent march for 3 kids, teacher killed in Zeeland accident

Many hundreds of people participated in a silent march on Sunday evening for the victims of the fatal accident in Vogelwaarde, Zeeland. The procession began at 7:00 p.m. in Axel, in the municipality of Terneuzen, with a moment of silence. Three pupils and the principal from a primary school in the town were killed, and more were injured. Mayor Franc Weerwind and King’s Commissioner Hugo de Jonge participated in the march.

Most participants wore white clothing, heeding the organizers’ request. Some children carried white balloons. Many people also carried a stuffed animal, a rose, or other flowers. According to an ANP reporter at the scene, the atmosphere was subdued.

The long procession passed by a fire station, where firefighters lined the route. Many people were also standing elsewhere along the route.

Around 7:45 p.m., the procession reached the victims’ primary school, De Warande. There, participants placed stuffed animals and flowers by the school's fence or wall and observed a two-minute silence.

Mayor Weerwind gave a speech and expressed his awe at all the people mourning and showing sympathy. “Sympathy for the young residents who are no longer with us, for the young people lying in the hospital, and for the young people who have experienced this.”

The mayor also paid tribute to the school’s other teachers who will return to work on Monday, “and do what their principal did: be there for the young people,” Weerwind said. “Your presence shows that this is something you cannot bear alone, but that you must do it together.”

The organizers of the silent march were stunned by the turnout. “I felt I had to do this, but I had expected at most a few hundred participants,” initiator Mylo Scherbeijn said. “It turned out to be many more.”

Co-organizer Angie van der Heiden said that the municipality of Terneuzen immediately agreed to cooperate with the march. “Just like all the people who helped with the organization, the municipality of Terneuzen also deserves credit. After all, time was short to arrange it.”

On Thursday, a car collided with a group of 14 children cycling with two teachers during a school camp. The principal and three 12-year-old children were killed. The police are investigating how the accident happened. The 19-year-old driver from Hulst is still in custody.