Quiet night at asylum information evening after double arson

The residents meeting in Wormerland on Tuesday night over the shelter of refugees, went down without a hitch. Before the meeting there were concerns about irregularities due to GroenLinks council member Harold Halewijn's cars being set alight earlier that day. He believes the arson has to do with his standpoint on refugees. About 250 people attended the meeting, both supporters and opponents of sheltering refugees in the municipality. Everyone had a chance to speak without tempers flaring, like what happened at a similar meeting in Steenbergen last week. According to BNR, Halewijn was still very tense when the meeting started, but seemed satisfied afterwards. "It was a hectic day, but no matter what happened, I get a good feeling with this. I am very content." The meeting had to be moved to a larger location due to the high amount of interest. Police officers were present for extra security. Wormerland Mayor Peter Tange told the Volkskrant that he never even considered canceling the meeting after the arson incidents. Earlier on Tuesday Minister Ronald Plasterk of Home Affairs expressed similar sentiments: “It is important that the democratic government not let itself be intimidated.”