A car drove into a crowd gathered to watch a parade in an eastern Dutch town Monday night, injuring nine people, at least three of them seriously, police said.
Why It Matters
The crash occurred as people waited along a roadway for a parade of vehicles decorated with Christmas lights in the town, which is about 50 miles east of Amsterdam. Officials in the nearby municipality of Elburg said the event was halted following the incident.
What To Know
Police said the crash did not appear to have been deliberate, but the investigation is continuing. Police said the driver was a 56-year-old woman from Nunspeet who was slightly injured. She was detained as is standard procedure in serious traffic accidents, authorities said, adding that no further details were immediately available.
A photographer who witnessed the incident told Dutch newspaper AD that the car appeared to enter the roundabout from a side road, drive diagonally through the crowd, strike a fence and come to rest in a field.
Video published by national broadcaster NOS showed emergency responders at the scene and a small car resting in a field with visible damage and its hood open.
What People Are Saying
Mayor Jan Nathan Rozendaal said in a statement, “What should have been a moment of solidarity ends in great worry and sadness.”
Photographer Armin de Breij, who was on the scene, told AD, “There were many people on and around the roundabout and along the side of the road. The car probably came from a side road, Oenenburgweg, and drove diagonally across the roundabout through the crowd, crashed into a fence, and ended up in the meadow.”Â
Nunspeet, Netherlands: What to Know
Nunspeet is a small municipality in the central Netherlands, located in the province of Gelderland on the edge of the Veluwe, one of the country’s largest forested nature reserves. Home to roughly 27,000 residents, it is known for its wooded surroundings, cycling routes and proximity to Lake Veluwe, making it a popular destination for outdoor recreation and tourism.
The town has a largely residential character, with a historic village center and several surrounding hamlets, and is well connected by road and rail to larger cities such as Zwolle and Amersfoort.
This article includes reporting by the Associated Press.
12/22/25, 4:06 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks.
12/22/25, 6:39 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks.