Thousands of partygoers have been gathering for the Amsterdam Dance Eventfor several days in De Hollandsche Manege on the Overtoom. Nice for them, butthe neighborhood gets less pleasure from it. They experience nuisance, butwere not given the opportunity by the municipality to object to the eventpermit. It was published too late, much to the chagrin of local residents.”The municipality must abide by its own rules.”
You must apply for a permit for all major events. The municipality publishesthe applications and the approvals on a website. Once the permit has beengranted, Amsterdammers will have six weeks to object. In the case of the ADEparty in the Hollandsche Manege, the permit was only published after questionsfrom AT5 and NH Nieuws, and only after the event had already started.
“It feels like we have no right to speak,” says Wendy, who does experience alot of trouble from the party. She lives about ten meters from the ridingschool. “It’s like I’m in a disco in my own house.”
The Dutch Riding School
“Not one permit that I have seen has gone according to the rules”>> cees, local resident
Local resident Cees is also concerned about the party, but especially aboutthe communication from the municipality. “You have six weeks to object, sothat the municipality can also see if they want to reconsider the decision,but that is not possible now.” Cees has checked several event permits thathave been published and concludes: “With none of the permits that I have seen,it has gone according to the rules. The municipality must also adhere to itsown rules.”
Objection from last year still not dealt with
Communication about permits granted is therefore too late, and action is alsonot taken on time when a notice of objection is submitted. Last year a localresident objected, also to the event in De Hollandsche Manege. Last October13, she received a message that her objection has still not been processed.Residents therefore do not stand a chance themselves, if they can submit anotice of objection on time.
no art
“We want to do everything we can to minimize the pressure on the> neighborhood”>> organization ade party
Measures
The West district says that the municipality has entered into discussions withthe organization and the neighborhood prior to the event. Additional measureshave been taken on the basis of the discussion and the experiences of lastyear. For example, an external company is said to monitor the noise level,special speakers have been installed to reduce disturbance from the bass andtraffic controllers have been deployed to ensure that parking runs smoothly.
However, the municipality admits that an error was made in publishing thepermit. On October 14, the application was accidentally republished instead ofthe granted permit. ADE starts on October 19.
The organization of the party also emphasizes the additional measures and saysit is ‘extremely unfortunate’ that local residents experience nuisance. “Weinformed local residents in a conversation that we are doing everything we canto minimize the pressure on the neighborhood.” The organization has thereforedecided to hold the event until 11 p.m. and lock the visitors out per 150people.
‘Live and let live’
Local resident Cees thinks that the measures will be of no use. “You keepfeeling the music,” he says. “Don’t get me wrong, I get that they want to havea party here, because it’s a beautiful location. A pearl in the city, but it’sin the middle of a residential area.” Wendy agrees. “I’m all for live and letlive, but we have to take each other into account.”