DutchNews.nl - DutchNews.nl brings daily news from The Netherlands in English

29 May 2025
Newsletter Donate Advertise
  • News
  • Life in the Netherlands
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
  • Search
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Art and culture
  • Sport
  • Europe
  • Society
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Housing
  • Education
  • News
    • Home
    • Economy
    • Art and culture
    • Sport
    • Europe
    • Society
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
    • Education
  • Life in the Netherlands
    • Latest
    • Opinion
    • Books
    • Travel
    • 10 Questions
    • Learning Dutch
    • Inburgering with DN
    • Food & Drink
    • Ask us anything
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
    • Team
    • Donate
    • Advertise
    • Writing for Dutch News
    • Contact us
    • Privacy
    • Newsletter
  • Search

Former island of Urk is a hotbed of crime, says government agency

July 25, 2019
A boat in Urk's harbour. Photo: DutchNews.nl
A boat in Urk’s harbour. Photo: DutchNews.nl

The staunchly Protestant former Dutch island of Urk is a hotbed of crime, often involving entire families, according to a government report.

The report, by the home affairs ministry’s regional crime information unit RIEC, says islanders are involved in cocaine smuggling, money laundering and in exploiting workers in the local fish processing industry.

The hospitality industry – both legal and illegal – is also a centre of illegal goings-on, local broadcaster Omroep Flevoland quoted the agency as saying.

The report is based on interviews with 25 professionals, including local authority experts, police and public prosecution department staff. The town culture, they say, is that of ‘it takes one to know one’ and the situation is made worse by the town’s role in the international fishing trade.

The widespread acceptance of working illegally and hiding money from the taxman is another problem, Omroep Flevoland reported.

Action

Last year, the five strong crew of an Urk-based fishing boat were jailed for up to six years for their role in a drugs smuggling operation.

And according to local paper De Stentor, a fish processing plant was closed by police at the beginning of July after a hand grenade – a known form of gangland intimidation – was found outside.

The broadcaster says the local authority has acknowledged the problem and is working on a plan to tackle the situation, but that the local mayor has declined to comment further.

Urk was an island until 1939 when the Afsluitdijk cut it off from the sea, forcing the local fishing industry to adapt.

Today the island, with a population of just under 20,000, is one of the most Protestant parts of the Netherlands. Avowedly Christian parties have 12 of the 19 seats on the town council.

Share this article
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Copy URL
Crime Society
Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.

We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.

Make a donation
Latest
Show more
Cracks grow in coalition as Faber clashes with party leaders
Fail again, fail louder: Wilders’ asylum plan is a hollow shell
Province calls for wolf to be culled after attack on woman
Lily growers face restrictions after doctor's pesticide petition
Dutch destinations: venture back into the Veluwe
NewsHomeEconomyArt and cultureSportEuropeSocietyEnvironmentHealthHousingEducation
Life in the NetherlandsLatestOpinionBooksTravel10 QuestionsLearning DutchInburgering with DNFood & DrinkAsk us anything
About usTeamDonateAdvertiseWriting for Dutch NewsContact usPrivacyNewsletter
© 2025 DutchNews | Cookie settings

Help us to keep providing you information about coronavirus in the Netherlands.

Many thanks to everyone who has donated to DutchNews.nl in recent days!

We could not provide this service without you. If you have not yet made a contribution, you can do so here.

The DutchNews.nl team

Donate now

Dutchnews Survey

Please help us making DutchNews.nl a better read by taking part in a short survey.

Take part now