Freedom Party MP Hero Brinkman says he is angry about the fact that Amsterdam Schiphol Airport pays special attention to Muslim pilgrims returning from Mecca. The airport has a small room where the pilgrims are welcomed with mint tea and sweets.
Brinkman wants to know whether Christian pilgrims returning from Lourdes receive the same kind of welcome. He said he saw a connection with what he felt was a lack of Christmas trees at the Amsterdam airport.
A Schiphol spokesperson said there is not much Christmas decoration at the airport yet because the Sinterklaas feast (St Nicholas) is still ahead of us, “but as soon as he has gone back to Spain, we’ll go all out with the Christmas decorations.”
The airport emphasised that it is a tradition of many years to welcome pilgrims returning home from Mecca “out of a spirit of good hospitality.”