Visitor of illegal party in Hilversum: ‘Understand that people find it...

The partygoer (name known to the editors) tells RTL News that it was actually an ‘old-fashioned party’, such as before corona time. “There was a small number of people who wore mouth caps, but otherwise it was like for corona.”

Walk to the party location

The visitor does not want to go into details, because organizing a party is not allowed in the current circumstances. But she explains that anyone could sign up for the party. Then everyone was sent a location of the assembly point half an hour to an hour in advance. “I got this location via via. From this meeting place we walked with a large group to the party location.”

The party was held on the construction site of the HOV line at Anna’s Hoeve, a nature reserve near Hilversum and Laren. Police reported that at least 300 visitors had come. The party guest who spoke to RTL Nieuws confirms this. “I think we were indeed with at least 300 people, if there were no more. But that is difficult to estimate at such a time.”

Pleasant ambience

What was it like to have an ‘old-fashioned party’? “The atmosphere was great.” Of course not everything was the same, there was no bar like that. “I brought a bottle of drink myself, but I think it was also possible to buy a bottle of water somewhere.”

The partygoer explains that she stayed with her own group. “I had come with them in one car, so I didn’t keep a meter and a half away from that group.” Incidentally, there was the option on the site to keep a distance of 1.5 meters, if you wanted to, according to the visitor. “And I did that for people outside my group too.”

The photos of the site after the party show that there were a lot of laughing gas cartridges and balloons. “Laughing gas was indeed used, but I didn’t use it and neither did the group I was with.”

‘Police, Police’

Images show that there was a lot of partying. “Until the police came. At that moment I was talking to someone, and then suddenly I saw bright lights. ‘Police, police’, I heard people shout. Then I ran away.”

Everyone went in all directions. “That scares you for a moment, but luckily nobody really panicked, so everyone could keep running or walking. I didn’t see people falling to the ground.”

Police arrested two people: the event’s DJ and a woman kicking a cop. It is unknown whether more arrests have been made or fines have been handed out.

This morning the reactions to the party poured in. Police Hilversum called it irresponsible and incomprehensible. Neighborhood police officer Inge finds the party antisocial and disrespectful. And we’re not even talking about the reactions on social media.

‘My choice to go’

“Of course I understand that some people find it irresponsible, and they are allowed to express that opinion”, says the visitor. “But it was my choice to go. I am not afraid of the virus and did not consider the measures whether or not to go to the party.”