Farmers and climate protectors protest in The Hague – 700 arrests South African president acquitted in money theft affair

During two major protests, several thousand people demonstrated in The Hague against the environmental and climate policy of the Dutch government. During a blockade by climate protectors, the police temporarily arrested about 700 demonstrators on Saturday evening and a water cannon was also deployed. The feared violent riots, on the other hand, failed to materialize during a large-scale demonstration by farmers in a nearby park.

Several thousand farmers went to The Hague on Saturday to protest against the planned environmental rules for agriculture. The government wants to intervene drastically in intensive livestock farming to reduce the emission of pollutants. “No farmers, no food” or “Proud of the farmers” read banners. The radical farmers’ organization “Farmers Defense Force” had called for the “biggest demonstration of all time”, right-wing organizations and populist politicians had also mobilized their supporters.

Only a few kilometers as the crow flies from the farmers’ meeting, about 3,000 climate activists from the action group “Extinction Rebellion” demonstrated for significantly stricter measures in the field of climate and environmental protection. They had occupied a driveway and chained or glued themselves to the asphalt. In the evening, the police cleaned the street. No one was injured.

The protests took place just days before the provincial elections and are an expression of the growing outrage in the country. Above all, the requirements for agriculture determine the election campaign. Next Wednesday, decisions will not only be taken about the provincial parliaments, but indirectly also about the composition of the first chamber of the national parliament (similar to the Bundesrat in Germany). According to surveys, a sharp shift to the right is imminent. Heavy losses are predicted for the ruling coalition and it is doubtful whether they will win a majority for their plans.

Right-wing parties and movements also took part in the farmers’ meeting. The right-wing populist Geert Wilders called for opposition to the coalition and for it to be voted out.

Fearing riots, the city had banned tractors and blocked access roads and key intersections with military trucks. At the demonstration site, however, an excavator broke through the blockage. Two people were arrested.

Last year, farmers across the country protested violently for weeks. They question the need for environmental measures.

Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s center-right coalition had decided to reduce the nitrogen supply in nature reserves by a maximum of 50 percent by 2030. This particularly affects livestock farms that produce ammonia. The reason for this decision was a ruling by the highest court in 2019. The cabinet estimates that the measures could spell the end for about 30 percent of companies.

The owners of the 3,000 or so farms that emit the most nitrogen near endangered natural areas must be persuaded to sell them or at least drastically reduce their livestock. But expropriations are also possible. “We have no choice,” says the responsible minister of Nature and Nitrogen, Christianne van der Wal. “Nature can’t wait.”

The Natura 2000 areas in the Netherlands protected by European law have been emitting far too much reactive nitrogen into the air for years. The main cause is intensive livestock farming, which releases a lot of ammonia. This has dramatic consequences for biodiversity.

The Dutch agricultural sector is huge and one of the largest exporters in the world. Last year, some 52,000 farms exported goods worth 122 billion euros, of which almost a quarter went to Germany.

The 2019 verdict not only had major consequences for farmers: projects near nature areas where nitrogen is released may not be approved. This means that the construction of homes and roads will come to a standstill, industry will not be able to expand and even the energy transition will be jeopardized. (sda/dpa)