Decibel Outdoor without police gives birth to the mayor, but Police Federation less euphoric

HILVARENBEEK – It remains to be seen whether mayor Ryan Palmen can look back really satisfied at the Decibel Outdoor dance festival in Hilvarenbeek. The mayor spoke of the quietest edition ever since. But according to the police trade unions, 'various reports' have not been picked up, they are less euphoric.

The unions report this Sunday in a tweet. It also states that they make up the balance on Monday and then come up with a statement.

'Quietest ever'
The festival was held for the first time in 2006 and took place the last three days before the eighteenth time. According to Palmen it was in terms of disturbances and people removed from the site, 'the quietest edition ever.' Unlike in previous years, there is no police presence at the event, because it takes action for a better collective labor agreement.

Palmen talked about a 'very smooth and quiet edition'. Saturday, the most important day of the three-day festival, about fifty thousand people visited the event. As usual, private security officers searched the visitors upon arrival and checked their bags. "The only thing that is different is that the police do not monitor whether this happens correctly." The municipality has taken over that role

'Pushing and pulling a little bit'
Drugs were found at 17 people. Those drugs were confiscated and those people were denied access. There was also a small fight. "Pull a little and push at the shuttle bus", according to the mayor

According to Palmen, it will be examined whether next year without police again. "We have to pay attention to the circumstances, because with 24 degrees people are less busy than with 34 degrees and we also have seventy thousand visitors, but we have now seen that it is possible."

Three hundred police officers
According to Palmen, sixty police officers were deployed in the past years and there were a few dozen arrests, mainly for drug possession.

Decibel drew 50,000 visitors on Saturday. (Photo: Youssef Zerrouk)