Project X: The Birthday Party That Caused a Riot
The Invite Heard ‘Round the World
In September 2012, a 16-year-old girl named Merthe from the quiet Dutch town of Haren wanted to plan a simple birthday party. She did what any teenager would do: she created a Facebook event for her 78 friends. However, she made one critical error—she set the event’s privacy to “public.” It was a small mistake, one that she believed would simply make it easier for her friends to invite a few mutuals. She had no idea that this single click would ignite a digital firestorm.
Within hours, the invitation spread beyond her circle of friends. It was shared, copied, and reposted across the internet. Memes began to appear, and the party was rebranded “Project X Haren,” a nod to the 2012 found-footage film about a house party that spirals into destructive chaos. The RSVPs climbed from hundreds to thousands, and then tens of thousands. Teenagers from across the Netherlands and even neighboring countries made plans to attend, turning a private celebration into a public spectacle.
When a Viral Joke Becomes a Real-Life Riot
As the day of the party approached, Merthe and her family, realizing the situation was out of control, canceled the event and fled their home. Local authorities, initially underestimating the power of a viral trend, posted signs and issued warnings, but it was too late. On the night of the party, thousands of people descended upon the small town of Haren. The atmosphere quickly shifted from festive to chaotic. The massive crowd, with no actual party to attend, began to grow restless.
Fights broke out, fireworks were set off in the streets, and shops were looted. Riot police were called in to disperse the crowd, but they were met with resistance as partygoers threw bottles, stones, and bicycles. The night ended with dozens of arrests, multiple injuries, and hundreds of thousands of euros in damages. The story of Project X Haren became an international cautionary tale, studied by sociologists and law enforcement as a powerful example of how quickly online phenomena can spill into real-world, destructive action. It remains one of the most famous—and infamous—birthday parties of all time.
