For the residents of Haren, September 21st holds a unique significance, unrelated to Earth, Wind & Fire. Almost 13 years ago, the town gained international attention when thousands flocked to celebrate a 16-year-old’s birthday after the party invitation went viral online.
The event descended into chaos, with riots causing injuries to at least 36 individuals and leading to numerous arrests. Netflix’s Trainwreck: The Real Project X, premiering July 8, delves into the circumstances surrounding the infamous party as part of its series exploring significant disasters. The documentary features an interview from Merthe Marije Weusthuis, the birthday girl, who is speaking publicly about the event for the first time in 12 years, as well as with individuals who filmed the happenings and local government officials who attempted to control the escalating situation.
“Now 28, I’ve decided to share my story after all these years,” Weusthuis announced on Instagram alongside a trailer for the documentary. “Despite anticipating renewed scrutiny and opinions, I’ll at least have the chance to tell my story in my own words.”
Here’s how the party invitation spread like wildfire.
A public Facebook event
Weusthuis created a public Facebook event for her 16th birthday and invited 78 people. As invitees shared it with their friends, it quickly went viral.
When 17,000 people RSVP’d, she deleted the event. However, an 18-year-old named Jorik Clarck created a copycat event, presenting it as a surprise birthday party for Weusthuis. It included references to the 2012 film Project X, which depicts a high school party spiraling out of control. “I made her Facebook famous,” Jorik claims in the documentary.
A mutual friend provided Weusthuis with Jorik’s number. Her father contacted Jorik and pleaded with him to remove the event, citing concerns for his family’s safety due to people trespassing and photographing their home. Jorik, concerned for Weusthuis’s safety, deleted his event.
Subsequently, another copycat event emerged. When Weusthuis contacted the administrators, requesting them to remove the event, they ignored her plea. As it became apparent that the party was going to happen regardless, local officials began strategizing ways to manage the situation. Chris Garrit, who oversaw Groningen’s nightlife, told TIME that he suggested designating a space outside Haren for the party, complete with music and a stage, but Haren’s mayor rejected the idea, wanting to simply announce that the party was cancelled.
Weusthuis tells Netflix she worried the partygoers would burn her house down, like in the movie *Project X*.
The day of the party
By September 21st, approximately 350,000 people had RSVP’d to the event. Weusthuis sought refuge at her aunt’s home outside of Haren.
The documentary contains extensive footage of the unruly crowd chanting “Where’s the party? The party is here!” and playing music on boomboxes in the street.
Police were on high alert and began closing streets near the house. A riot ensued. Some footage shows officers using batons on unruly individuals. People broke car windows and engaged in shoplifting.
In the film, a journalist who covered the event recounts returning to his car to find footprints on the windshield, a smashed window, and a brick on the passenger seat.
“I’ve kept the brick as a souvenir,” he says.
The mayor of Haren, Rob Bats, faced criticism for his handling of the situation and ultimately resigned.
Why so many people wanted to go to a stranger’s party
At a time when socializing was heavily reliant on social media, people seemed excited about the prospect of gathering in person. Project X, released in March 2012, resonated with and inspired teenagers. It inspired other real-life out-of-control parties, including a 2012 rave in Houston, Texas, that resulted in a fatality, and a 2014 party in Canadian Lakes, Michigan, that led to several hospitalizations.
Weusthuis believes that the desire to attend the party stems from a basic human instinct. She understands that many teenagers eagerly anticipate the opportunity to legally drink and attend parties.
“I don’t believe that most attendees intended to riot or commit crimes,” Weusthuis states in the documentary. “I think many people came because they wanted a party. I think it’s natural for teenagers to want to rebel, embrace their freedom, and express themselves.”
The movie concludes with her saying, “I definitely would have gone if it wasn’t my party.”
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