Amsterdam students' hazing halted due to wolf threat

The hazing of students at the Amsterdam Student Corps is a long-standing tradition. Every year, members from Amsterdam and Wageningen travel to the wooded Den Treek Estate for their hazing experience. During these days, they perform various tasks in nature, such as maintenance and tidying up, as part of the ritual.

Earlier this week, the first three hundred "prospective members" arrived at the site after a six-hour bike ride. Their packing list even included a whistle to ward off wild animals, but that ultimately proved insufficient to ensure their safety. Upon arrival, they were met with an unexpected surprise: a wolf. Bad luck, or a blessing in disguise?

The initiation ceremony was canceled due to the wolf roaming around the Den Treek estate. The municipality of Leusden considers the presence of nearly a thousand fraternity students in wolf territory too unsafe and has therefore revoked the permit. The chair of the ASC student association tells EW that the students have since gone home. The campsite must be completely empty by Saturday at the latest.

"We understand it's disappointing, but the safety situation is more important to us," a spokesperson for the municipality of Leusden told Het Parool . "You want them to be able to walk safely to their portable toilets at night." The municipality does allow working in the woods during the day. "Then it's their own responsibility."

The Corps would prefer to continue the hazing program. In an email, the ASC is asking former members to find an alternative location: "Do you, or do you know someone who does, have a site or location where we can still organize the camp?"

The municipality of Leusden revoked the permit due to the presence of the problem wolf "Bram" on and around the estate. Wolf warning signs were recently placed on the Utrechtse Heuvelrug, with carts displaying the message: "Avoid Utrechtse Heuvelrug Forest."

Last week , a child was bitten in the woods near the Pyramid of Austerlitz, presumably by the same "problem wolf." Because this animal has attacked people before, the province has received permission to shoot it. The wolf has cubs and still roams the woods.

Although the judge ruled on July 23 that the wolf, which had previously sunk its teeth into an adult female, may be shot, "Team Bram" appears to be growing, EW reports. Animal rights activists have already announced a "march for Bram" on August 17 in the Utrechtse Heuvelrug.

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