For the first time in Almere, someone has been convicted of sexual street intimidation. The verdict was given by the court in Lelystad. This conviction is an important step in the approach. The municipality of Almere is also launching a campaign this week in which residents share their opinions and experiences.
Since 2018, Almere has been working to combat street intimidation, with a strong focus on prevention, such as education in schools and public campaigns. Since April 2025, the municipality has participated in the national pilot for enforcement of sexual intimidation. Within this pilot, specially trained enforcement officers (boa’s) in plain clothes patrol the streets to enforce the law.
On May 15, 2025, Almere enforcement officers for the first time caught a case of sexual street intimidation in the act. The suspect was stopped and a report was filed. This case was handled by the court in Lelystad at the end of January and led to a conviction.
Clear Signal
Mayor Hein van der Loo emphasizes the importance of this verdict:
“This conviction shows that street intimidation is not harmless behavior, but transgressive and unacceptable. With our approach, we send a clear signal to offenders in Almere. And we show victims that they can count on us.”
According to the mayor, the verdict is also of great value for the further development of enforcement of the Sexual Offenses Act: “Every case helps us learn how to apply this law effectively and support our enforcement officers as best as possible.”
Increased Efforts from 2026
From 2026, the municipality will deploy an additional team of enforcement officers. This allows Almere to enforce more frequently and also be present in the evenings and weekends, times when street intimidation occurs relatively often.
Campaign Featuring Voices of Residents
In addition to enforcement, Almere continues to focus on awareness and prevention. Therefore, the municipality is launching a social media campaign this week in which residents speak out about street intimidation. In short videos and messages, they share their opinions, experiences, and why they believe everyone should feel safe on the street.
With this combination of enforcement and making social norms visible, Almere aims to contribute to a city where respect and safety are self-evident for everyone.