The The most blatantly racist experience we've had in the Netherlands.most blatantly racist experience…
The most blatantly racist experience we've had in the Netherlands.
We were staying in Zoetermeer for a week and decided to stop by BackWerk in ZOETERMEER for coffee. We paid in full with cash – the staff member at the counter (a woman of East Asian appearance) carefully counted all the coins before handing over our order.
But as we left, things took a shocking turn.
One of the employees, alongside the manager, suddenly stopped us in the middle of the high street and accused us of stealing coffee. This was humiliating and completely uncalled for. I explained that we had paid and asked them to check with the staff member who served us – or simply review the CCTV. Instead of investigating properly, the manager became aggressive and started shouting. We were treated like criminals for absolutely no reason.
What made it even worse was the deeply inappropriate, racially charged tone of the interaction. The staff member – who appeared to be of Middle Eastern descent – began yelling what sounded like “YaAllah, Yallah,” which was both unsettling and offensive. Not once did anyone offer an apology, even after realizing their mistake.
This wasn’t just poor service – it was profiling and outright racism.
I will never return to any BackWerk in the Netherlands and will strongly advise others to avoid it as well.
What we wanted was a simple acknowledgment and apology for an unjust accusation. Instead, we were shouted at, humiliated, and disrespected.
Absolutely disgraceful behaviour. Shame on this location.