An Unexpected Performance
For a moment, guests at SteamWorks' BDSM-themed party on Friday night thought the entertainment had been taken to a whole new level. When officers from the Dutch police and the Fiscal Intelligence and Investigation Service (FIOD) entered the building around 10:30 p.m., many assumed it was part of the show. The reality, however, was far less theatrical.
"Everyone initially thought I had hired them as an act," owner Arold Dingemans told local newspaper De Gelderlander, describing the surreal scene as authorities began a full-scale search of the popular Arnhem gay sauna.
A Raid with a Peculiar Result
Despite the significant show of force, the extensive search of the venue on Roermondsplein yielded very little. According to Dingemans, authorities left with nothing more than "two handfuls of erectile pills" and found no other illicit drugs on the premises or on guests. Crucially, no arrests were made.
The owner noted that while the situation was disruptive, the officers themselves were professional. "They are all very calm and friendly," he commented while the raid was still in progress. The sauna's financial records, a potential target given the FIOD's involvement, were reportedly not examined during the search.
A Farewell Under Scrutiny
The raid comes at a particularly sensitive time for the Arnhem institution. After nearly two decades of serving the community, SteamWorks is set to close its doors for good on January 2nd. Dingemans announced the closure in late October, citing personal health reasons.
However, the venue's final weeks are shadowed by recent public accusations from a former employee regarding alleged financial misconduct. Dingemans has consistently and firmly denied these claims, stating, "I sincerely believe nothing is wrong here... There is nothing to be found here."
For many in the community, the timing of the raid feels pointed. To deploy a joint task force from the police and the national tax fraud unit, only to find a few prescription pills, raises questions about the use of resources and the potential for targeting LGBTQ+ venues. While the officers' conduct was professional, the disruption of a private event in what is considered a safe space has not gone unnoticed.
As SteamWorks prepares for its final weeks, this dramatic but ultimately fruitless raid adds a strange and unsettling chapter to its long history. The community is left to wonder whether this was a legitimate, intelligence-led investigation or a final, hollow gesture based on unsubstantiated claims.
