Netherlands · Coffeeshops · Almere
Almere council parties press the mayor on safety after an explosion at coffeeshop The Boxx
Cannabis Industrie reports that PVV and VVD members of the Almere council have put nine written questions, dated 27 October, to the mayor and aldermen about the explosion at coffeeshop The Boxx in Almere Buiten. They ask whether the police inquiry looks at a link with the coffeeshop, whether a new safety and risk analysis will be ordered, whether a temporary closure was considered, and what extra measures such as cameras or more police and enforcement officers are possible. No reply from the mayor or aldermen was available when the article was written.
An earlier Cannabis Industrie report, citing 1Almere and Omroep Flevoland, says the blast damaged the building on the Evenaar in the night of Sunday 25 to Monday 26 October, with fire services alerted at about 01:20. A small fire was put out quickly and nobody was hurt. Police are looking for witnesses and camera footage, and the cause is unknown. The owner has extended door security to 24 hours a day at her own cost, and the shop reopened on Monday as planned. A residents' group says the blast was less than 50 metres from a daycare centre and wants the municipality to reassess safety. The shop opened on 15 October, and the mayor gave final permission for the site in early September. We have not seen the council questions or police statements ourselves.
Sources: Cannabis Industrie (29 October) · Cannabis Industrie (27 October)