This is the Netherlands that is rarely seen by tourists

When you think of the Netherlands, you probably think of misusedikes, and windmills – but there is also a completely different side to our beautiful flat country.

In an article written for El Paiswriter Port of Berna González reveals how the drug trade is expanding its presence across the Netherlands – and there’s still a lot to unpack.

The drug problem

It is no secret that the Netherlands is a very… liberal attitude towards cannabis and other soft drugs – and many tourists visit purely for this reason. It’s not all fun and games, though.

This open attitude has led to a serious crisis, with the production and trafficking of synthetic drugs, cocaine and heroin deeply entrenched in the country.

One of the major players in this landscape is the Mocro Mafia – a criminal network that transports tons of drugs across the country and abroad.

packets-of-medicines-in-bags-on-gray-background — Bags of drugs are regularly found in the Netherlands. Image: Depositphotos

Their violence has shocked the country, with high-profile murders – including that of lawyer and crime reporter Ridouan Taghi Peter de Vries – as a reminder of the power of the mafia.

Several high-profile Dutch people, such as former Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Princess Amaliaare also threatened by them.

The Mocro mafia threat has left decapitated heads, torture chambers, bomb-rigged houses and drug laboratories in Dutch cities, endangering young people and raising serious alarm.

Dutch youth on edge

The drug trade in the Netherlands has developed into a crisis that extends far beyond the ports and infiltrates neighborhoods, schools and even families.

A worrying trend is that teenagers are increasingly entering the scene, often lured by the lure of easy money and luxury items. These children are the “child soldiers” of the mafia, as González Harbor writes.

photo-of-old-port-cafes-bars-and-restaurants-in-rotterdam-fun-to-do-during-visit — The city of Rotterdam is one of the cities with a dense network of organized crime. Image: Depositphotos

They usually know these young people because they live in their neighborhood.

“First they invite (a child) to an older boy’s house, where they offer him free weed and video games. Then they use them for their own business: collecting, distributing, planting bombs, stabbing, fighting,” a social worker told El País.

Eventually, “they start wearing Gucci clothes, cool sneakers, two cell phones and cash. (If that happens), you already know that they are involved (in crime),” says Geke Kersten, director of a school in Arnhem.

Many of these young people have stab wounds on their bodies, routinely carry weapons and are no strangers to armed robbery.

An extensive network

Former Rotterdam mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb highlights how mafias effectively integrate into society – recruiting both locals and recent arrivals in the Netherlands.

He and Arnhem Mayor Ahmed Marcouch, both of Moroccan descent and committed to tackling the problem, are calling for joint European efforts against drug trafficking. Their initiatives include strengthening international ties with port cities and visiting Latin American countries to tackle drug sources.

For Aboutaleb, there is a lot at stake in Rotterdam, where Europe’s largest port has turned into a battlefield. Traffickers use the extensive container labyrinth to hide drugs, with gangs even building ‘container hotels’: camouflaged hideouts for young smugglers.

largest-port-europe-rotterdam-netherlands — Rotterdam is the largest port in Europe and a gateway for smuggled drugs. Image: Depositphotos

Customs officials are under great pressure and are often threatened or forced to share inside information. A Port Authority official tells El País how this usually works out:

“The traffickers have two ways of approaching dock workers: first, they gently reach out to see if you can be helpful. If they decide you will, they investigate you, they find out where your kids go to school, who your wife is, your parents.”

“In (another scenario) they threaten you with a gun, put money in your pocket and say, ‘You’re going to do something for me.’ You can go to the police…but you know they will come back and find you.”

With the information from dock workers, the mafia goes to its child soldiers, who are ordered to sneak into the ‘container hotels’, where they stay until they manage to retrieve the drugs.

While police efforts are serious, they often feel futile as more and more teens join gangs every year.

So, what should be done?

The challenge in the field of drug trafficking in the Netherlands remains enormous.

The mayor of Arnhem, Marcouch, believes that the public should understand the violence that underlies the drug trade. “Just as people oppose child labor in fashion, drug users must recognize that every gram is soaked in blood,” he emphasizes.

Tackling the problem of organized crime in the Netherlands requires solutions that address both the roots of the problem and its current reality – and we still have a long way to go.

Netherlands-police-car-light-flashing-emergency — The Dutch police work tirelessly – but sometimes that is not enough. Image: Depositphotos

A crucial part of tackling organized crime involves the efforts of social workers and community organizations working to divert young people from crime.

Through mentoring programs, educational initiatives and safe recreational activities, they create pathways that help young people avoid the temptation of street crime.

If you want to know more about the other side of the Netherlands, I highly recommend reading Berna González Harbor’s entire article here.