Movies

The Party That Broke the Internet and Netflix!

BBG News

In the quaint Dutch town of Haren, the 21st night of September holds special significance, unrelated to Earth, Wind & Fire’s music. Over a decade ago, this small town made global headlines when crowds numbering in the thousands gathered to celebrate a 16-year-old’s birthday. The event became popular after the invite was shared extensively on Facebook.

In “Trainwreck: The Real Project X,” premiering on July 8 on Netflix, learn about the wild behind-the-scenes events that unfolded during this notorious party. This documentary is a part of Netflix’s series focusing on significant disasters in recent history. You’ll hear from Merthe Marije Weusthuis, the birthday girl who has remained silent for 12 years about the event, YouTubers who captured the chaos, and local officials who attempted to keep the party under control as it spiraled out of control, leading to injuries for at least 36 people and the arrest of many more.

As a film enthusiast, I’ve reached the age of 28, and after all these years, I’ve made the decision to share this captivating tale. When I unveiled the trailer for the Netflix documentary on Instagram, Weusthuis wrote that “It’s time for my voice to be heard.” I understand that renewed attention, criticism, and opinions are coming my way, but at least I’ll have spoken up for myself.

Here’s how the party went viral.

A public Facebook event

For her 16th birthday, Weusthuis organized a public event on Facebook and extended invitations to 78 individuals. As these invitees shared the event with their own circle of friends, the event spread rapidly, becoming viral in nature.

When 17,000 people indicated they would attend an event, she decided to cancel it. However, a young man named Jorik Clarck duplicated the event under the pretense of a surprise birthday party for Weusthuis. This new event included elements inspired by the 2012 movie “Project X,” which portrays an out-of-control high school party. In the film “Trainwreck,” Jorik boasts, “I made her Facebook famous.

A pal of Weusthuis who was linked with Jorik on Facebook shared his contact info with her. Subsequently, Weusthuis’ father phoned Jorik and pleaded with him to remove the event due to worries about the family’s security as strangers were scaling their fence and snapping photos of their home. Since Jorik was keen on ensuring Weusthuis’ safety, he decided to erase his event.

Subsequently, another similar occurrence arose. When Weusthuis contacted the administrators, expressing her concern and requesting them to scrap the event, they ignored her plea. As it became evident that this gathering would take place regardless, local authorities began devising strategies to keep it under control. Chris Garrit, who was in fact a government official responsible for overseeing nightlife in the city of Groningen, shared with Netflix his intention to designate an area outside Haren for the party, equipped with music and a stage. However, the mayor of Haren refused this proposal. Instead, he aimed to announce that the event was cancelled.

Weusthuis informs Netflix that she had concerns about partygoers potentially setting fire to her home, similar to the scenario depicted in the movie “Project X”.

The day of the party

On or before September 21, approximately 350,000 individuals confirmed their attendance for the event. Weusthuis took shelter at his aunt’s residence situated beyond Haren.

The document holds an abundance of video recordings depicting a lively group of people. Holding drinks, they cheered, “What’s the location of the celebration? The celebration is right here!” Portable stereos played tunes loudly in the streets.

Law enforcement had heightened vigilance to prevent any mischief, and began blocking off roads close to the residence. A disturbance occurred. Certain clips in the documentary depict police officers striking disorderly partygoers with batons. Individuals smashed car windows and stole items from stores.

In the movie, a reporter who was there at the event later remembered finding footprints on the car’s windscreen, a broken window, and a brick placed on the passenger side when he got back to his vehicle.

“I’ve kept the brick as a souvenir,” he says.

In a turn of events, Mayor Rob Bats from Haren faced criticism due to his inability to control a gathering, ultimately leading to his decision to step down.

Why so many people wanted to go to a stranger’s party

In an era where social interaction largely took place on digital platforms, there was a noticeable enthusiasm among people for face-to-face interactions. This sentiment was particularly reflected in the teen population regarding Project X, a project launched in March 2012. Project X not only struck a chord with this demographic but also served as a catalyst for their inspiration. Regrettably, such enthusiasm led to real-life parties that spiraled out of control. For instance, a 2012 rave in Houston, Texas, resulted in one fatality, and a 2014 party in Canadian Lakes, Michigan, caused several hospitalizations.

Weusthuis expresses her belief that it’s deeply rooted in human nature to desire attending a social gathering like a party. She empathizes with the excitement many teenagers feel, anticipating the age when they can legally consume alcohol and partake in such events.

In the documentary, Weusthuis states, “It seems unlikely that the majority who attended the gathering were planning to riot or break the law.” He adds, “I believe many came simply for a good time. I think it’s typical of teenagers around that age to crave rebellion, assert their independence, and showcase their individuality.

The movie ends with her saying, “I definitely would have gone if it wasn’t my party.”

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2025-07-08 14:06

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