During a stroll through Amsterdam’s Jordaan neighborhood, Orangemaster and I spotted a bold sticker on a window overlooking the back alley of Mr. Haz, a local taco bar.
The sticker features an illustration of a revolver aimed directly at anyone passing by, alongside the words “Beveiligd door” (“Secured by”) with a company name and phone number beneath it.
I couldn’t help but chuckle. In the Netherlands, security guards are not allowed to carry firearms, so this seems to be a cheeky joke—or a cheeky threat—implying that the guards are more dangerous than the criminals they’re hired to deter. It reminded me of the familiar “hier waak ik” (“I guard this place”) sticker showing a dog—except guard dogs are perfectly legal here.
Meanwhile, voices within the Dutch security industry, especially among BOAs (community service officers), have recently been calling for the right to carry weapons.
(Photo: Orangemaster)
