The Oosterwei neighbourhood in the Dutch city of Gouda is often described as a 'problem precinct'. The area keeps making headlines, most recently when a street party for children was attacked by young troublemakers. The Gouda mayor was petitioned and worried MPs asked questions in parliament.
Yet Oosterwei was not designated as one of Holland's most problematic areas in a national neighbourhood improvement programme.
Gouda's Oosterwei continues to be associated with vandalism and physical abuse, causing great irritation among local Dutch-Moroccan residents. Young Dutch-Moroccans are accusing the media of pulling every news item out of proportion and assuming that all Oosterwei's residents are the same.
Bookmark/Search this post with:
Email this Video
Printer-friendly version
lol, that's a " no go " area??? Come visit the US and let me SHOW you some " no go " areas! Let's compare crime rates and the actual gravity of the crimes committed. I think you might reconsider your perspective of how safe the Netherlands truly is. I've visited Holland and it's much cleaner and more orderly than anything I've seen in the US. Listen, I'm white and I can understand that to some, it can be uncomfortable if they are surrounded by non whites. But your country is like 90% white. Your Muslim population is only 5-6%. You're not being " overrun " with any sort of outside group. That being said, I think everyone agrees that people living there, regardless of religion, should respect Dutch laws and traditions.
Hello, David Berridge. I don't believe "troublemaking" is limited to one demographic group. I believe humans abuse otehr humans for multiple reasons (not out of boredom) and it is reinforced by society at large by failing to step in and controlling those who terrorise their neighbourhoods. Criminals take avantage of weakness in other humans and the law. It is the nature of man. We become who we are by our environment and conditioning. When the social system breaks down, I believe crime rises. David Berridge, you have a great day!
Hiram, your thesis yesterday sounds exactly like the troubles Geert is having with his own PVV bullies!! Is this troublemaking limited to any one demographic group in particular, or is it the overall social environment in the Netherlands as a whole which is to blame? Think also of the Netherlands losing out to Russia ans Quatr, after the show of sportsmanship the Dutch displayed against Spain in the final championship match. There seems to be a trend here!!
JW, with me, the colour of one's hair or skin has nothing to do with how I form an opinion but colour does play a part in how some people form their opinions. I will use your statement as an example. You chose race (the colour of one's hair) to attack my statements on crime and me. Why would you choose race? Do you form your opinnions on the colour of one's skin? Why did you choose yellow hair instead of red hair? Does yelllow hair remind you of people like Wilders? { The article stated " The Oosterwei neighbourhood in the Dutch city of Gouda is often described as a 'problem precinct'. The area keeps making headlines, most recently when a street party for children was attacked by young troublemakers.".......Do you really believe the Oosterwei neighbourhood built their negative reputation on "thrown tulip bulb and spilt chocolate milk"? The statemet "Gouda's Oosterwei continues to be associated with vandalism and physical abuse, causing great irritation among local Dutch-Moroccan residents." is the problem and honest citizens get tired of being abused by criminals and a legal system that will not protect them. In closing JW, your justification and excuses are no different then those who commit crimes in Gouda and then justifing their actions by stating everything is blown out of proportion.
I intimated that you are racist because you repeatedly come on here explicitly promoting intolerance. Seems to go hand in hand. But you say you're not, so fine. Blond hair reminds me of me.
You sure do like to twist things around. Anything's better than answering a question, right? So how would you meter out this jailtime? One year per tulip bulb? Two years per carton of chocolate milk? Three for a hurled insult?
The US could serve as a model of how not to enforce law. Overflowing jails and still dangerous crime in the streets. If I were one of your constituents, Senator, I would want you to focus more on America's problems than those in some tiny distant country which beats it on every meaningful measure of social performance.
"I intimated that you are racist because you repeatedly come on here explicitly promoting intolerance."....So, if I disagree with your form of tolerance, am I classified as a racist? Have you ever read one of my posts in which I gave preference to one raceover another race? You haven't! JW, people like you are quick to id/tag someone as a racist in order to justify your hate for anyone who has the nerve to say something disagreeable to you. As to the article it wasn't about about a tulip bulb or a carton of "chocolate" milk. That was your attempt to down play a serious problem in a community as nothing more than children playing a few jokes because they were bored. Sorry, JW but you still lack justice for the victims. Why is that the case?
Were you harassed or attacked in the Netherlands? Was it because you were pursuing an alternative lifestyle? Is it also why you later devoted yourself to Christianity, and to oppose Islam? Is that why you spend so much time now commenting about the Netherlands, crime, and on morality? (I apologize if I'm off the mark.)
If so, that's awful. I wouldn't wish that sort of treatment on anyone. I'm in favour of prosecution for those who persecute or harm others. People who mistreat others are jerks. These miscreants come from all backgrounds and religious (or nonreligious) groups. I hope you can get past it. As a straight, white, non-religious guy, I've never been subjected to what I'd consider to be even minor harassment. But I've seen it happen to friends and loved ones, and find it very distasteful. It's part of the reason I am so opposed to discrimination and intolerance, whichever form it may take. It's why I oppose many of your comments.
It seems that the media's eye is on this neighbourhood not because it's actually rampant with crime, but because it's believed to be. Sounds like there could be a few real jerks there. But you could say that about most neighbourhoods. Based on the video there doesn't seem to be much to it. I think that leaders will put more effort into social programs before resorting to police batons and jails.
Sounds as though most of the issues arise out of boredom. How about some proper recreation facilities for these teens?
JW, did you harass the local, store employees because you were bored? What would be some "proper" facilities? If they don't care about how they treat others, do you really think a proper, recreation facility will change them? One reason they abuse others is: " It's a power trip for them personally and for the gang. They use their power to control people who are likely to speak out against their criminal activities. Gangs don't act out of boredom. They intimidate to impress and force their will on those who live in their hood. They are not good little boys and girls but criminals who need to be held accountable for their crimes. JW, you want to spend money on criminals but you don't want to help those honest citizens who are losing their jobs.
The one kid was complaining that he had no proper place to play football. And that he was always harrassed for kicking a ball around. Kids get into trouble when they're bored. Gangs? Only in the mildest sense of the word.
You'd advocate jail time, for a thrown tulip bulb and spilt chocolate milk, I suppose? Would your reaction be different if they'd been blond?
Post new comment
Please be reminded all comments must be in English, short and to the point - guideline 250 words. Abusive and inappropriate comments will be removed.