Police water cannon ends latest anti-asylum riot in Loosdrecht; "Terrorism," VNG says

The police used a water cannon to end the latest anti-asylum protest at the town hall in Loosdrecht on Wednesday evening. Protesters again threw dangerous fireworks at the police. Four people were arrested. The Association of Dutch Municipalities (VNG) wants an urgent meeting with the Cabinet regarding the anti-asylum riots, speaking of “forms of terrorism and intimidation.”

The anti-asylum protest started relatively peacefully at a designated location near the town hall, where the municipality opened a temporary emergency asylum shelter. Later in the evening, demonstrators started throwing fireworks at cops again, and the riot police intervened. The riot police used a water cannon to disperse the protesters. Four people were arrested.

The riot police had positioned themselves in such a way that the protesters could not reach the town hall, where 15 asylum seekers have been staying since this week. On Tuesday, protesters set fire to the bushes next to the building, with the asylum seekers and several COA employees inside, and blocked firefighters from reaching the blaze. The situation last night was “very unsettled,” but not as extreme as on Tuesday, a police spokesperson told NOS.

After Tuesday’s fire, the municipality of Wijdemeren, which covers Loosdrecht, implemented strict measures to prevent recurrence and keep the people in the asylum shelter safe. Only people with “a demonstrably reasonable purpose” are currently allowed to visit the town hall, and gatherings are prohibited in a larger area around the building. Face-covering clothing is banned near the building, and the police can stop and search people in the area.

The VNG has requested an urgent meeting with the central government to discuss the riots in Loosdrecht and other places in the Netherlands, including IJsselstein, Den Bosch, and Apeldoorn. Consultation is needed to determine “which additional measures are necessary to prevent further escalation, maintain the feasibility of the reception task, and support municipalities,” the VNG said.

Municipalities are taking responsibility and housing asylum seekers at the Cabinet’s request, the umbrella association said. In return, they are “increasingly confronted with intimidation, threats, violence, and organized disruptions.” The VNG spoke of “forms of terrorism and intimidation.”

According to the VNG, this calls for measures. Municipalities and the police are reaching their limits.

Asylum Minister Bart van den Brink (CDA) received the municipalities’ request during a debate on the asylum policy. He said that “contact is being made in the background and that the meeting will be scheduled.”

Several parliamentarians endorsed the VNG’s call during the debate, including Lisa Wsterveld of GroenLinks-PvdA, soon to be PRO. “Municipalities are increasingly seeing escalations; they are running up against their limits.” National politicians need to stand behind the local authorities, she said.

Earlier this week, Van den Brink announced that the intelligence agency AIVD was investigating the anti-asylum riots to determine whether they involved more “organization” than just upset locals who want to voice their concerns. There have been reports of far-right organizations pushing and escalating the protests.