The new coalition government in the Gelderland municipality of Oldebroek has ended the practice of flying the rainbow flag at the town hall and is dismantling all existing diversity and LGBTQ+ policies. According to prospective alderman Tom de Nooijer of the Christen Vóór Oldebroek (CVO) party, the coalition considers the flag an “unchristian” symbol.
This move makes Oldebroek the first municipality in the Netherlands to formally include the removal of LGBTQ+ and diversity policies in its official governing agreement, according to reporting from the Reformatorisch Dagblad.
Residents Respond with a Flood of Colour
In direct response to the council's decision, the local community organised a swift and visible protest. Resident Kjeld Mooi, who is not part of the LGBTQ+ community, launched a crowdfunding campaign to place a full-page advertisement of the rainbow flag in the local newspaper, Huis aan Huis Oldebroek.
The initiative was a resounding success, with more than 250 donors contributing to fund the ad. “If the municipality does not protect them, then we have to do it ourselves,” Mooi told RTL, expressing his hope that the campaign would galvanize further support for the local queer community.
A Step Backwards for Inclusion
The decision to remove the flag marks a significant reversal for Oldebroek. The municipality only began flying the flag in 2021 after extensive discussions with residents about the need to improve safety, resilience, and social acceptance for LGBTQ+ people in the area.
The debate over the flag is not merely symbolic. The source article notes a previous incident of aggression in the region where a resident named Lars discovered two bullet holes in his window shortly after hanging a rainbow flag outside his home. This context underscores the real-world safety concerns that symbols of inclusion and official diversity policies are meant to address.
Mooi was reportedly motivated to act after attending the coalition's presentation in late June, where the new anti-diversity policies were confirmed.
