View source for 1975 Dutch train hijacking

{{Short description|Dutch train hostage crisis}}
{{More citations needed|date=June 2018}}
{{for|the 1977 hijacking|1977 Dutch train hijacking}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox civilian attack
|title= 1975 Dutch train hostage crisis
|image= Treinkaping bij Beilen (derde dag) twee kapers gooien iets weg, buiten de trein, Bestanddeelnr 928-3080.jpg
|caption=
|location= [[Image:Flag of the Netherlands.svg|20px|border]] [[Wijster]], Netherlands
|coordinates= {{coord|52|49|N|6|31|E|region:NL_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
|target=Train
|date= 2–14 December 1975
|time=
|timezone=
|type= Murder, hostage-taking
|fatalities=3
|injuries=unknown
|perps = [[Maluku Islands|Moluccan]] youth
|weapons = Guns / handguns
|motive = A free [[Republic of South Maluku|South Moluccan Republic]] (Republik Maluku Selatan)
}}

On 2 December 1975, seven [[Maluku Islands|South Moluccans]] seized a train with about 50 passengers on board in open countryside near the village of [[Wijster]], halfway between [[Hoogeveen]] and [[Beilen]] in the northern part of the [[Netherlands]]. The hijacking lasted for 12 days and three hostages were killed.

At the same time, seven other [[1975 Indonesian consulate hostage crisis|South-Moluccans took hostages in the Indonesian Consulate]] in Amsterdam.

The attackers came from [[Bovensmilde]], a village where a few years later another group of [[1977 Dutch school hostage crisis|South Moluccans seized a primary school]]. The attackers hid their weapons disguised as presents for the [[Sinterklaas]] holiday on 5 December.

==Context==
{{main|Republic of the South Moluccas|l1=Republik Maluku Selatan (RMS)}}
The South-Moluccans came to the Netherlands for a temporary stay, promised by the Dutch government that they would get their own independent state, [[Republic of South Maluku|Republik Maluku Selatan (RMS)]]. For about 25 years they lived in temporary camps, often in poor conditions. After these years the younger generation felt betrayed by the Dutch government for not giving them their independent state and they started radical actions to draw attention to their case.

==Developments==
[[File:Treingijzeling Wijster (zesde en zevende dag) afzetting met gewapende militaire, Bestanddeelnr 928-3118.jpg|thumb|right|Military roadblock at Wijster]]
Around 07:10, the emergency cord was pulled on the local train [[Groningen (city)|Groningen]]-[[Zwolle]]. The [[train driver]], Hans Braam,  was immediately murdered. When, on the third day, the Dutch government had not given the hijackers what they wanted, 22-year-old national serviceman Leo Bulter was murdered and both bodies were thrown out of the train on the rails. That night, 14 hostages managed to escape from the train.

The next day, young economist Bert Bierling was brought to the doors and shot dead in full view of the police and the military as well as the press. The dead bodies thrown from the train were only allowed to be taken away a couple of days later.

On 14 December, the hijackers surrendered. Among reasons for surrender were reports about retaliation on the Moluccan islands and the sub-zero temperatures in and around the train.

==Aftermath==
The hijackers were convicted to sentences of 14 years. The most fanatical member of the hijackers, Eli Hahury, committed suicide in prison in 1978.

==In popular culture==
In 2008, ''[[Wijster (television film)|Wijster]]'', a [[Dutch language|Dutch-language]] television film was made about this hostage crisis, directed by [[Paula van der Oest]].

==See also==
* [[Attempt at kidnapping Juliana of the Netherlands]]
* [[1977 Dutch train hijacking]]
* [[1978 Dutch province hall hostage crisis]]

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071120171129/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,879514-1,00.html Article in 1975 Time Magazine; not found 14 May 2021.]

{{South Moluccan hostage crises in the Netherlands}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dutch Train Hostage Crisis}}
[[Category:1975 crimes in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:History of Drenthe|1975 Dutch train hostage crisis]]
[[Category:Hostage taking in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Midden-Drenthe|1975 Dutch train hostage crisis]]
[[Category:Moluccan Dutch]]
[[Category:Hijackings in Europe]]
[[Category:Terrorist incidents in Europe in 1975]]
[[Category:Terrorist incidents on railway systems in Europe]]
[[Category:1975 murders in Europe]]
[[Category:Terrorist incidents in the Netherlands in the 1970s]]
[[Category:Hijackings in the 1970s]]
[[Category:Train hijacking]]