Several thousand people protested in The Hague against the government’s planned environmental regulations for agriculture. Many farmers marched to the Zuiderpark yesterday with flags, balloons and banners. “No farmers, no food” or “Proud of the farmers” was written on the 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 away as the crow flies, around 3,000 climate protectors from the “Extinction Rebellion” action group demonstrated for significantly stricter measures in climate and environmental protection. For a short time they occupied a slip road, they chained themselves and stuck to the asphalt. The police cleared the street.
Shift to the right expected in regional elections
The protests came four days ahead of Wednesday’s provincial elections. Then decisions will not only be made about the provincial parliaments, but also indirectly about the composition of the first chamber of the national parliament. According to the polls, a sharp shift to the right is expected. Heavy casualties are predicted for the coalition.
The farmers’ rally was not just about environmental regulations. Right-wing parties called for resistance against the government. The right-wing populist Geert Wilders appealed to “deselect” the coalition. The authorities were concerned about violence after weeks of farmers protesting with violence last year.
Nitrogen should be drastically reduced
The reasons for the farmers’ protests are the announced conditions for the protection of nature areas. Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s centre-right coalition wants to drastically reduce nitrogen emissions by 2030. This decision was triggered by a ruling by the highest court in 2019. The government estimates that the measures could mean the end of around 30 percent of livestock farms.
The owners of around 3,000 farms, which emit the most nitrogen near threatened natural areas, are to be persuaded to sell them or at least to drastically reduce their livestock. But expropriations are not excluded either. “We have no choice,” said Minister for Nature and Nitrogen, Christianne van der Wal. “Nature cannot wait.”