Dec 13, 2023 at 6:02 PM Update: a minute ago
Valkenburg and Maastricht are taking extra safety measures at the Christmas markets. The Limburg municipalities are doing this because the national threat level was scaled up from level 3 to 4 on Tuesday.
The increase in the threat level from “significant” to “substantial” means that the chance of a terrorist attack in the Netherlands is real, Mayor Daan Prevoo of Valkenburg said on Wednesday. Places where many people come together are extra vulnerable. “So also the Christmas market in Valkenburg.”
That is why the municipality is tightening the measures and the mayor says he is “extra alert”. “This also means that people can be checked (for example bag checks) if we see reason to do so.”
Prevoo calls on people to avoid the crowds by coming on a weekday, for example. That also makes security easier. Last year, more than half a million people from all over Europe came to Valkenburg. The crowd pullers were the Christmas markets in the Municipal Cave and the Velvet Cave. Numerous visitors also attended the Christmas parade.
Security is also being tightened in Maastricht. The city annually organizes the Magic Maastricht winter event, with a Christmas market on and around the Vrijthof. Many tourists and day trippers come here every year.
Security at Dickens Festijn in Deventer already at ‘very high level’
The Dickens Festijn in Deventer will continue next weekend with normal security. This is already at a “very high level”, says a municipal spokesperson. “There’s nothing more to add to that.”
During the Dickens Festijn, the historic center of Deventer is transformed into an English town from the nineteenth century, with characters from the books of Charles Dickens. The event attracts more than 125,000 visitors every year.
-
Terrorism threat to the Netherlands at second highest level: ‘Real chance of attack’
-
Since the war in Gaza, the Netherlands has been taking extra measures to prevent attacks
Image: The Christmas market in the Velvet Cave in Valkenburg in 2017, Getty Images
Read more about:
MaastrichtDeventerValkenburgTerrorismDomestic
2023-12-13 17:02:02
#Tighter #security #Christmas #markets #Limburg #due #higher #threat #level #Domestic
