86 items handed in during Zaanstreek weapons campaign

Residents of Zaanstad, Oostzaan and Wormerland handed in 86 weapons during a voluntary surrender campaign in early October, the municipalities said. People could drop items off anonymously and without consequences.

The three municipalities ran the campaign together with the police. During the week of 5 October, a large bin stood at the police station on Guishof in Zaandijk, where residents could leave items such as knives and striking or stabbing weapons, Zaanstad said on 12 October.

What was handed in

The items included knives, swords, batons and several kinds of imitation and air-pressure weapons, Wormerland said on 13 October. Zaanstad's own list also mentions samurai swords, machetes and airsoft guns.

Firearms were excluded from this campaign. Anyone who owns a firearm and wants to get rid of it can contact their neighbourhood police officer, Wormerland says, but that cannot be done anonymously.

Items to be destroyed

The municipalities said the items would be registered, sorted by type and then destroyed. The municipalities say the aim is to reduce the number of weapons on the street and make the region safer.

Wormerland also told the story of a woman who brought in a bag of knives after she had talked to her grandchildren about carrying weapons. The municipality called it a good example of how awareness can start at home.

A year earlier, in 2025, residents handed in 79 weapons during a similar campaign, according to Zaanstad.