Nuisance from young people at fairs, sharply rising costs for security

NOS News•today, 6:01 PM

It is becoming increasingly difficult for fairs to keep attractions affordable, especially for people with a small wallet. Due to sharply rising security costs, special afternoons for minimum wage earners are becoming a problem, says fair association BOVAK.

There were incidents at several fairs this year. For example, last month someone was arrested in Zaandam for burglary and vandalism at the children’s fair and there were problems with young people at fairs on the Malieveld in The Hague, in the Reitdiephaven in Groningen and in Alphen aan den Rijn.

The budget fair is currently being held in Tilburg, for families who can enter the attractions with a significant discount. The organization ran into problems this year because the municipality had to provide more security after previous incidents with young people. Chairman Atze Lubach-Koers of the fairground association BOVAK wonders how long this discount can continue to be given by fairground operators.

He has recently seen more incidents involving young people at fairs. “It is an almost elusive group of about 12 to 16 years old, which unfortunately the police have few resources to take serious action against,” he said in the NOS Radio 1 News. “We often see them hanging around after they have been removed from the property.”

At the beginning of this month, things got out of hand in Emmeloord, where more than a hundred young people deliberately destroyed items belonging to fairground operators. Stones and fireworks were also thrown. A group stayed at the operators’ stands and sleeping areas until late at night. There they honked and made noise and operators were called “cancer gypsies”. An argument between a fairground employee and a visitor may have caused the disturbances.

“Such a large group creates a very unsafe feeling for the operators and their families,” says Lubach-Koers. The fair in Emmeloord had to close earlier, while a large part of the turnover should come from the evening. “Ultimately, the licensing authority places the costs for extra security guards and higher fences on us and visitors see this reflected in the entrance prices of attractions.”

Ad Jongenelen from fairground association NKB recognizes the stories of Lubach-Koers. In addition to the problems with young troublemakers, he also sees challenges in stricter environmental regulations, assertive local residents and distrustful banks.

“Some municipalities want to ban trucks that transport the attractions with environmental zones next year. Then we will have to arrange tons of electric transport and then the revenues will no longer outweigh the costs.” In addition, according to Jongenelen, people are more critical about their living environment and are more likely to object to noise pollution from a fair on their doorstep.

“And at fairs we receive a lot of cash payments. When depositing that money, bank machines often stop after the umpteenth fifty-euro note. Then you immediately get a stamp, you have to prove that you are doing legitimate business and with some colleagues the business account is blocked. How do you continue with your business?”