In a few days, Emmen will be the most secured part of the Netherlands. The royal party is being watched inside and out of sight. A lot of manpower and heavy artillery are used for this. How is it on Saturday in ‘Fort Emmen?’
Police commander Rob Vos points to a huge colossus in the street scene. We don’t often come across this type of traffic furniture. But necessity breaks law during King’s Day. On the way to the city center there is a huge one roadblock. “To stop traffic,” Vos explains. “Cars are not allowed on the route, this helps with that.”
Even trucks weighing up to 3,500 kilos don’t stand a chance against the beasts that are positioned on access roads to the center. “Everyone goes Saturday morning at 6 a.m roadblocks closed,” Vos explains. An exception is only made for the royal family, because they have to be driven to Noorderplein during the morning. “After that it will close again,” says the police commander.
More precautions have been taken to ensure a smooth King’s Day celebration. For example, the airspace above Emmen is closed. Anyone who does launch their drone will most likely lose it. “If you let it go, we will take over the drone and confiscate it. No, we are not going to shoot. We technically do that.”
Because as a police force you are in danger of running out of eyes, the center is full of cameras. “If you look closely, you see six,” says Vos at a glance. The extra camera surveillance is not an unnecessary luxury. “The route is long, and we want to have a good view.”
Vos concludes that the police will be fully prepared. “As the police, we are prepared for anything. Especially on King’s Day.”
