Dutch police arrest shady burglar that turns out to be the MAYOR

Ah, the politie (police), our friends and helpers! 👮🏼‍♂️ They didn’t hesitate when called about a shady-looking man, wandering the dark streets of Aerdenhout — armed with nothing but a garbage collection stick.

Immediately jumping to action in the little village near Haarlem, the police closed all neighbourhood roads to ensure the lawbreaker couldn’t make a run for it, writes RTL Nieuws. 🚔

The criminal in question? Mayor Roest, on his nightly #hotgirlwalk.

A 45-minute chase

Okay, let’s be real for a second: In a small village like Aerdenhout, where the nightlife is not exactly as buzzing as in Amsterdam, it’s rather unusual to see people out on the street at night.

And that’s exactly what one observant local, who reported the heinous crime to the police, thought. In a way of looking out for the community, the man refused to turn a blind eye to the shady-looking burglar who was wandering the village streets at night.

READ MORE | The 10 best authentic Dutch villages that you have to visit

Within 45 minutes, the suspect was caught — only for the police to recognize him as the beloved Mayor of Bloemendaal, Elbert Roest. Oeps! 👀

Health is wealth

“I try to get in 10,000 steps a day,” said Mayor Roest to justify his actions, “and if I don’t manage, I’ll go for a walk before bedtime.” 🚶

photo of Mayor Elbert Roest in front of some trees
The criminal in question. Image: Elbert Roest/WikimediaCommons/CC3.0

One burning question remained: Why the waste collection stick?!

Well, the answer is as simple as it is wholesome. The stick comes along so that Mayor Roest can keep the municipality looking fresh.

“Another great story added to my mayorship,” concludes Roest in a Facebook post about the incident. “Maybe next time I’ll wear a yellow vest.” 😉

What do you think about this criminal Mayor? Tell us in the comments!

Feature Image:Freepik
Lyna Meyrer 🇱🇺
Lyna Meyrer 🇱🇺
Say 'hoi' to Lyna, our Senior Writer at DutchReview! Fueled by a love for writing, social media, and all things Dutch, she joined the DR family in 2022. Since making the Netherlands her home in 2018, she has collected a BA in English Literature & Society (Hons.) and an RMA in Arts, Literature and Media (Hons.). Even though she grew up just a few hours away from the Netherlands, Lyna remains captivated by the guttural language, quirky culture, and questionable foods that make the Netherlands so wonderfully Dutch.

3 COMMENTS

  1. My first thought was at least he didn’t get shot. That’s just my perspective from here in California.

  2. Wow, what a funny and unexpected story! It’s great to see that the police take their duty seriously, even if it turns out to be a false alarm. I can understand the concern of the local resident, but it’s also important to not jump to conclusions too quickly. It’s good to know that Mayor Roest was able to enjoy his #hotgirlwalk without any harm done.

    One question that comes to mind is how often do false alarm calls like this happen in small villages like Aerdenhout? Is it a common occurrence or was this an unusual case?

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Related posts

Latest posts

BREAKING: International Criminal Court in The Hague issues arrest warrants against Israel PM and Hamas leader

The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague has just issued arrest warrants against three important figures from Israel and Hamas.  According to the NOS,...

Your guide to all the ‘lekker’ Dutch festive food and drinks you can enjoy this holiday season

Christmas is right around the corner, which means: it's time for the feasting on Dutch festive food to begin! 🎄 You might be wondering...

Best internet and SIM deals in the Netherlands: Free gifts, discounts, and more

’Tis the season… for Black Friday tech deals! From free TVs to discounts up to 70%, these are the best internet and SIM offers...

It's happening

Upcoming events

The latest Dutch news.
In your inbox.