Shattered window. Photo: Shutterstock ‘Tonight, we were attacked again!!!’ a student posted in the Wageningen Student Plaza Facebook group. After eggs were tossed at her house at Hoevenstein on 18 October, a stone flew through the window on Friday 23 October. Witnesses saw two teenagers cycle off after the incident.
An attempt was also made to throw a brick through Sanne Kneppers (18, student Health and Society) window. She lives near Hoevestein. ‘I was watching TV on 17 October. The TV is set up near the window, from where I heard a loud bang. Upon inspection, I saw a fairly large hole. Fortunately, we have double glazing, and only the outer pane was broken. I was home alone, so I called the neighbours. We alerted the police and the landlord. A temporary replacement window was installed the same night.’
Shocked and afraid
The following weekend a new incident took place. ‘A new attempt was made to throw a brick through the same window’, Kneppers says. ‘They either missed or didn’t throw hard enough, but they failed. I didn’t see or hear anyone, but my neighbour on the next floor up saw three boys cycle off laughing.’
‘At first, I was shocked and terrified. I had never experienced anything like this. I was afraid to be at home by myself. Now that I realise they weren’t targeting me specifically, I feel a little safer, strange as it may sound. So, I’m okay now.’
Unsafe and angry
The students who posted on Facebook, do feel unsafe, are angry and want to move. They suspect the incident is linked to their Chinese background, they told De Gelderlander (links to Dutch content).
‘It is terrible that students no longer feel safe’, says WUR-spokesperson Annet Blanken in a reaction. ‘Individual students may reach out to the student dean, or a confidential advisor. We have contacted the CASSW to see how we may support the Chinese community. We have filed charges with the police department, who are now handling the case. The municipality suggested it is likely an act of bored youths. As it stands, background appears to have nothing to do with the incident, but it is up to the police to investigate further.’
Not specifically targeted at students
Jos Smits of the Wageningen police department confirms that there have been several reports of vandalism of late. ‘In as far as we are able to ascertain, these are not specifically targeted at student housing’, Smits states. He is aware of five recent reports of vandalism.
There has also been an increase in burglaries over the past few months. ‘There are more burglaries in the fall and winter because it is dark sooner. This is, once again, the case.’ According to Smits, the number of burglaries increased in September in comparison to the same month in 2019, but was lower in October compared to the previous year.
