Fairground operators in Emmeloord attacked with vandalism and insults

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Broadcasting Flevoland

NOS News•today, 11:31

There have been disturbances several days in a row at the fair in Emmeloord. Young people turned against the fairground operators. They feel unsafe, writes Omroep Flevoland.

Stones and fireworks bombs were thrown at the stalls, among other things. The young people also honked their horns late into the night at the stands and sleeping areas of the fairground travelers. “There are daddies, moms and small children sleeping there. That’s not possible, is it?” says fair organizer René Duursma. “Fair fair people are used to something, but were now really scared.”

The operators have been called names, including ‘gypsy’ and ‘cancer Jew’. “You see discrimination in many areas. We are also confronted with this. This appears to be a deliberate action against the fairground operators,” said Duursma.

According to Omroep Flevoland, it was already restless at the fair on Wednesday night. Extra police were deployed on Thursday evening due to an argument between several young people. Among other things, barrier posts on the site are said to have been destroyed.

No one was arrested and police said no injuries were reported. However, the municipality states in a statement that dozens of young people clashed with each other and several acts of vandalism were committed.

Duursma is amazed by the aggression. “We are in the countryside, and then these problems? That is not possible,” he says.

“I don’t have a good word to say about it,” responds Mayor Roger de Groot of Noordoostpolder, which includes Emmeloord. Atze Lubach-Koers of the National Association of Fairground Business Owners calls the attack a “unique situation”.

Due to the unrest, the mayor has taken measures. For example, the fair had to close at 8 p.m. on Friday evening (instead of 11:30 p.m.) and extra security was deployed. It is the first time that these types of measures were necessary at the fair in Emmeloord, according to the municipality.

Yet things went wrong. About 110 young people are said to have destroyed property belonging to operators. Discriminatory slogans were also shouted at the fairground operators. Images of this have been distributed via social media.

The fair lasts until tonight. It is not yet clear what additional measures will be taken. The mayor says that there are already “some young people in the picture”. “We will definitely visit them.”