Bandidos Motorcycle Club banned in the Netherlands

On Wednesday 20 december 2017, the district court of Utrecht has banned the Bandidos Motorcycle Club (Bandidos MC) in the Netherlands. This ban immediately ends all activities in The Netherlands of the international motorcycle club and its Dutch branch.

On 14 November 2016, the National Office of the Dutch Public Prosecution Service (DPPS) requested the district court of Utrecht to ban the Bandidos Motorcycle Club (Bandidos MC) in the Netherlands. In March 2014, the international motorcycle club Bandidos MC expanded to the Netherlands and established chapters in the cities of Sittard, Alkmaar and Utrecht. Shortly after this expansion, members of the club became subjects of criminal investigations and caused severe disturbances of the public order.

Today, the district court of Utrecht has followed this request and has banned Bandidos MC in the Netherlands. In its judgment, the court ordered a definitive end to all activities by Bandidos MC in the Netherlands.

In it’s judgment, the district court has stressed the permanent culture of lawlessness, both in words and actions in Bandidos MC in its manifestation as a so-called ‘1%-MC’. Criminal behavior is accepted in Bandidos MC, as follows from the club’s use of internal communication about members in detention and the financial assistance to these members.

Another example stressed by the court is the rewarding of violence with the ‘expect no mercy-patch’. Bandidos MC  further imposes a code of silence on its members and intimidates witnesses. Members of the Bandidos MC are frequently victim of violence or extortion and violence by fellow club members, particularly when they (are forced to) resign from the club in ‘bad standing’. Moreover, the Bandidos MC is engaged in an ongoing turf war with other outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMGs) which endangers innocent bystanders.

The DPPS is satisfied with today’s ruling. Ruling of the court.

The DPPS has also requested the district court of The Hague to ban the Satudarah Motorcycle Club. A ruling on this request is expected in the first half of 2018.