By Natascha Rivera

Copyright euroweeklynews

RESIDENTS of the Dutch municipality Vlissingen are at their wits’ end due to a recent onslaught of half-naked people in the city centre. The area has recently seen a variety of people using drugs and exposing themselves publicly, a problem that has unexpectedly spiked in recent years.

Public nudity and drug use, all in broad daylight

On Monday, September 8, a man was seen fully naked on a bench in the Lange Zelke neighbourhood of Vlissingen, unbothered by the passersby, including children. This incident, along with several others, are circulating on Dutch social media. Other videos show another man walking stark naked through the city centre, and a woman lying on a bench, seemingly drugged. Some locals, as well as local police, believe these are people from outside the Vlissingen municipality seeking refuge.

According to Dutch business owners, who are more than fed up, this has been a worsening problem in Vlissingen. While a city is bound to have some trouble and nuisances associated with it, public nudity, drug use, and general indecency crosses a line they are not used to dealing with.

Brigiet Stellaard, the chair of the Vlissingen Business Association, says that the variety of incidents happening in broad daylight is driving some startled shoppers to hide in stores. Additionally, there is nothing the store owners can legally do: police can detain the infractors for a few hours, but if they refuse care, there is nothing further they can do. This leads to people being detained, and going right back to wreaking havoc in the centre later the same day.

Infractors reportedly on psychosis-inducing drugs

One of the culprits appears to be the “alfa” drug, similar to flakka, a drug that causes extreme delirium and psychotic symptoms. The drugs can also make the users aggressive and unpredictable, causing public disturbances and fear. Flakka and its variations, including alfa, have been a growing problem in the Netherlands as their usage becomes more widespread, particularly in shelters.

Notwithstanding, the local government is doing what they can to combat the growing crisis. They have organised quick response teams and methods in order to be on the scene as fast as possible if an incident is reported. Additionally, regular patrolling methods and detainment continue to be enforced.