LEEUWARDEN - The Wielenpôlle residential area in Leeuwarden has been transformed into "Christmasvillage Wielenpôlle". There are a total of about a million lights in the district. Nowhere in the Netherlands is a neighborhood with so many Christmas decorations.

Almost all residents of the neighborhood participate in decorating everything from the beginning of September. The enormous amount of lighting has now become a tourist attraction. Especially on weekends 3000 - 4000 cars drive through the streets per day, in addition there are also about a thousand people who walk through the district. regularly there are long traffic jams with cars on the roads around to go to the residential area. Dozens of volunteers from the neighborhood ensure that traffic is directed through the neighborhood.

Due to the corona measures, the neighborhood is only accessible in the form of a drive-thru or a walk-thru. There would also be several stalls, this could not continue with the current rules.

A major setback for the residents of the area was the destruction of two reindeer in the nativity scene. They are believed to have been smashed by vandals. The vandalism has been reported. The police now drive extra often through the neighborhood at night.



Interview with resident and volunteer Angela Mebius.

08:25 - Where are we here and what is there to see?
"You are in the Christmas village of Wielenpôlle in Leeuwarden. There are a million lights to see, beautiful creations, homemade and rented things and a nativity scene."

08:44 - What is Wielenpôlle Christmas Village?
"We are a residential area with 240 households and caravans that completely decorate their houses for other people. To make other people happy, we like that."

09:01 - How many lights are there in the neighborhood and how do you get them?
"We have about a million lights hanging here. We bought new lights with money we collected last year. And the residents buy everything themselves. It is being expanded further and further. We have now also decorated 45 trees."
"Since September 1, we have been busy decorating everything to show something new. Because as you can see, we have a lot of visitors."

09:35 - How many visitors do you have in one evening?
"On a weekday evening about 300 to 400 cars and 800 walking people. On the weekend 3000 to 4000 cars drive through it per evening. And also at least 1000 people walking"

09:57 - How come so many people come look?
"We used to be known for the Christmas village, but we stopped doing that. Last year we started again during the lockdown, then everyone needed it too. That was the start for us again, and now we are so big. "

10:20 - What is your goal?
"We want to show that there can be for someone else by burning a light. And especially in this corona period, everyone can find a little warmth, light and comfort here. We think it's fantastic to do that for someone else."

10:52 - How do people react?
"All the people are positive. They like it, we have radios and fire barrels on. We would also have stalls with treats and everything, but that is not allowed now. We are now a drive-thru and a walk-thru. We have a walking route so that everyone can keep enough distance"

11:26 - Last year there were long traffic jams to the neighborhood, how was that solved?
"We now have a fixed route to drive. During the week it still works in the normal way. In the weekends everything is indicated with signs, then they enter the neighborhood on one side and out on the other."

11:58 AM - How long are you guys going to keep this up.
"We were supposed to continue until December 19, but have chosen to continue until December 23. So that we can now celebrate Christmas at home instead of accompanying thousands of cars, like last year."

12:18 - You have a nativity scene that has been destroyed?
"Last year we had a manger with all kinds of statues, ie we put them away every evening. But we have now bought two large reindeer with a sleigh, these reindeer have unfortunately been smashed. The legs have been kicked under it, their antlers are in several pieces. One is now back and the second can probably be saved."

12:55 - Do you know who did it?
"I always say, you are innocent until proven. We have a suspicion, but we can't do anything without proof. The organization has reported vandalism. The police come by extra often at night"