Justice Min disappointed villagers attacked deputy’s car

Security and Justice Minister Ard van der Steur was upset by the behaviour of villagers in Oranje, Drenthe who blocked Justice Secretary Klaas Dijkhoff's car, and tried to prevent buses of refugees from entering the town. Dijkhoff was in the town of 140 people Tuesday night to discuss plans to double the number of asylum seekers there from 700 to 1,400. Villagers used cars to barricade roads to prevent Secretary Dijkhoff from leaving. One woman stood in front of his car, but collapsed, screaming, as she was ushered to the shoulder of a road. Upon hearing the screams, another man struck the car, called the secretary an "asshole," and tried to yank the door open as the car pulled out. “I understand the emotions but it is clear that violence and aggression is never the solution,” Van der Steur told BNR. He advocated instead for entering into a dialogue with his deputy, Dijkhoff, emphasizing that as the main reason the secretary was in Oranje. The day after the incident, residents went on with their lives, but were still angry at what they one villager called "arrogance from The Hague," according to NOS. The town made a firm agreement to house 700 asylum seekers only, and they are aggravated the Cabinet reneged on the deal. Van der Steur refused to make a comment about the specific refugee housing situation in Oranje, as it is a sensitive one that is for Secretary Dijkhoff to address. The minister also said he will be reducing the Secretary’s tasks in light of the refugee situation and has reportedly taken over Dijkhoff's work on privacy and data protection.