44 arrests, more than 600 fire brigades and 33 burnt-out cars. The figures for the New Year in The Hague resemble those of a battle. Yet the mayor of The Hague, Johan Remkes, is proud of his inhabitants, because he expected much worse.
When the 68-year-old Remkes was asked to become acting mayor of The Hague, he was not in a hurry.
His sense of duty won over his desire to retire, so the VVD has been at the helm of the royal city since October 12, where it is troubled by the resignation of mayor Pauline Krikke, the ban on bonfires and two suspected of corruption former aldermen.
The acting mayor took into account the worst and that had everything to do with the decision to ban the tradition of bonfires on the beaches of Duindorp and Scheveningen.
The (upcoming) ban led to major disturbances in The Hague in the weeks preceding New Year’s Eve and Remkes was prepared for the worst during New Year’s Eve.
Did you not get away well with the fact that New Year’s Eve ended without riots?
“The very last thing I’m worried about is whether Remkes gets away well. I find that totally unimportant. Yes, fun is of course always different. Let there be no misunderstanding about that.”
How did you ensure that major disturbances did not occur?
“We have prepared the case very well from the start. The cooperation between the emergency services and the public administration has never been so intensive. That certainly helped.”
“The Public Prosecution Service has also been very active. That is also clear from the number of people who have been arrested. I think that has also worked reasonably preventively.”
- Johan Remkes (Zuidbroek, 1951) was Secretary of State for Housing and Urban Policy, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations.
- In 2010 the VVD member became commissioner of the Queen (later of the King) in Noord-Holland.
- Remkes retired at the beginning of 2019, but he held various other positions. He is, for example, chairman of the Advisory Board on Nitrogen Problems.
- The Groninger went fully back to work on 12 October. He became acting mayor of The Hague. Remkes succeeded Pauline Krikke, who resigned after a critical report from the OVV about the bonfires that got out of hand.
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Despite all those preparations, riots were taken into account. Why did you not offer an alternative to the bonfires on behalf of the municipality?
“It has been said in the direction of the people at Scheveningen and in Duindorp:” If you want to celebrate a party without a fire, then the congregation is willing to examine with you how that could be done. ” But the request must come from the people themselves. The municipality is not going to organize a party isolationist. That makes no sense either. “
“Relatively at the last minute I was sitting around the table with the organization of Scheveningen. Duindorp was also invited, but did not want to participate in the conversation, unless there would still be permission for the bonfire. That is a shame, because that did not belong to The gamerules.”
“We did not receive any suggestions or requests for help with a Christmas party.”
Why have the requirements for a new bonfire actually been waited for the report of the Dutch Safety Board (OVV)? That only came at the beginning of October and it was already clear that applying for permits would take some time.
“Actually I can’t say that, because I don’t know. Mrs. Krikke (Remkes’ predecessor, who left shortly after the OVV report, ed.) Left abroad quite immediately after her resignation. I didn’t speak to her “
That is crazy.
“Yes, but things are going the way they are. And of course there is a painful element in her departure.”
It would have been nice if she had made a transfer for you.
“Given the situation that occurred, I understand that. I also understand the administrative consideration of waiting for the OVV report. In a manner of speaking, it could also have been said that you should completely abandon bonfires.”
This month you go with the builders of the bonfires in conversation about the coming New Year. In what way can you help them?
“By alerting them to the requirements set in the permit process and by saying that they have to do something like that. They really have to do liability insurance themselves.”
“I suspect that the people who were on top of the piles sometimes had a good sip.”
Johan Remkes, mayor of The Hague
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“They also just have to comply with the health and safety regulations. To be honest, I was surprised that there were never any personal accidents in the construction of the bonfires. In fact, it is dangerous to live in. Especially if the people who were on top of the stacks also had a good sip and I suspect that this just happened occasionally. The organizers must arrange that properly. “
Something else: you recently argued for a ban on bang fireworks and flares. For the time being, that goes against the line that the VVD follows nationally. Did you find that difficult?
“Oh no, I don’t mind that at all. I have always acted like this: you have a certain responsibility and from that responsibility you think about what you think, what the problem is and what solution must be found. Harm Buiter, my first mayor in Groningen, has always told me that backbone and just a little practical thinking are more important than a party program. And I think so too. “
Yet you went against the VVD before. As chair of the Nitrogen Problems Advisory Board, you advised on reducing the maximum speed. Are you still a VVD member?
“I still feel very much at home at the VVD. You do not accept these types of functions to earn the popularity prize.”
A fireworks ban does not reduce the number of car fires.
“It might not be surprising to take a look at the punishment, because a punishment can have a preventive effect. Apparently the punishment is not such that the perpetrators slow down. It can also help if the damage is recovered from parents if the arsonists are minors “
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Johan Remkes in his office in the Hague city hall. (Photo: Pro Shots / Toon Dompeling)
You recently mentioned the confusion of society. What can we do about it?
“We must – and I am talking about the mayors – put this problem on the agenda of the Minister of Justice and Security (Ferd Grapperhaus, ed.). This must then be followed by a concrete action program. I would be quite prepared to play a pioneering role in this. take.”
“But if the neighbor is the twelve year old boy next door Unfug (rowdy, ed.) sees business, then that neighbor could say to the parents: “Say, could you not even pay more attention to your son or daughter?” To a limited extent, the mayor does the same. A number of letters were sent to parents this year. But collective outrage must be turned into addressing parents. “
“It could well be that parents will sooner realize that they have a responsibility if a firm bill can come.”
Your task in The Hague will be finished on 1 July. If a commissioner calls again and presents a city in need to you …
“Then it is not my first thought to say ‘yes’ to that. But you never know under what circumstances a request is made. For that I also have a bit too big a heart for public affairs and public administration.”
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