© Domingos Oliveira
Following the illegal rave in Heinerscheid over the weekend, police and the landowner shared their experiences of hostility, environmental damage, and the challenges of clearing the site.
The rave, held on the weekend of 27 July in Heinerscheid, caused considerable disruption and required a large-scale police intervention. According to a statement from the public prosecutor in Diekirch, two individuals were eventually arrested in connection with the event.
RTL spoke to both the police and the owner of the meadow where the gathering took place to find out more about what unfolded over the weekend.
The situation first came to the authorities' attention at around 11pm on Friday, when they received reports of unusually heavy traffic in Heinerscheid. As it was already dark and no noise could be heard from the upper part of the village, the police decided to wait until morning to evaluate the scene more clearly.
Alain Engelhardt, Deputy director general of the police, explained that upon returning the next day, officers assessed the situation and attempted to engage with those believed to have organised the event.
However, their efforts to establish contact were met with significant hostility and little willingness to communicate, according to Engelhardt. He explained that the police informed the group that they needed to vacate the site, and then pulled back temporarily to give them time to dismantle and leave.
Despite this approach, it took a considerable amount of time for the partygoers to comply, Engelhardt noted.
Over 100 officers were deployed, including members of the uniformed force, specialised units, and K9 teams, Engelhardt explained. He noted that a full range of resources was mobilised to manage the situation and clear the estimated 500 participants from the location.
The event had been held in a meadow near the river Our, which falls within a Natura 2000 conservation zone. Engelhardt explained that as a result, the authorities later seized several vans and lorries used to transport stage equipment, speakers, mixing desks, and other materials associated with the party setup.
The owner of the meadow, Bob Simon, supported the police's actions and stressed the impact the event had left behind. Even on Monday, the area was still strewn with debris – including fridges, mattresses, bottles, and cans – posing a serious danger to his livestock. He explained that cows could suffer fatal internal injuries if they consumed such waste.
Simon expressed gratitude for the support he received in cleaning up the site. The mayor had assured him of help already on Saturday afternoon, and indeed local authorities arrived with vehicles to assist, Simon noted. He also said that several local volunteers came forward to lend a hand in clearing the field.
Engelhardt hopes that the seizure of equipment will discourage organisers from returning to the site in the future. However, they could not confirm how frequently such unauthorised gatherings take place in Luxembourg.
These events are typically arranged in closed online forums, and the Heinerscheid rave drew attendees from across the region – including France, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands – all converging in the quiet Oesling area for the weekend.
