Farmer protests in the Netherlands: Who’s behind it all?

Farmer protests in the Netherlands: Who’s behind it all?

Martina Hungerkamp, ​​AGRARHEUTE*

© Imago/ANP

Another major demonstration by farmers took place in The Hague (Netherlands). But it was about much more than guidelines on nitrogen and ammonia reduction.

In the Netherlands, demonstrations have again taken place against the high environmental demands that threaten the existence of livestock farmers. But are the farmers really the only ones demonstrating there?

German farmers are rightly suffering from the political context which constantly imposes new constraints and which, at the same time, does not offer any planning security. In the Netherlands, the situation is even worse, the farmers are desperate, they are up against the wall because of the high environmental requirements.

For example, the government wants to drastically reduce polluting emissions. Nitrogen and ammonia emissions must be reduced by 50 percent by 2030. According to estimates by the Dutch government, around 30 percent of livestock farms would have to go out of business to achieve these targets.

Are farmers’ protests hijacked?

Already last summer, protests took place on several occasions: farmers blocked supermarket distribution centers and formed roadblocks with their tractors. The police even carried out warning shots isolated.

Last Saturday, it was again the case. About 25,000 people demonstrated in the Zuiderpark in The Hague (Netherlands). The demonstration was organized by right-wing professional associations such as the Farmers Defence Force (FDF) and the movement of former opponents of Covid policy, Together for the Netherlands (together for the Netherlands).

Right-wing populist parties have also called for demonstrations. Right-wing populist politician Geert Wilders (PVP) notably addressed the demonstrators and called on them not to vote for the parties of the current coalition in the provincial elections. For Wilders, the nitrogen emissions debate is just a pretext to drive out farmers and fill the country with thousands of homes for asylum seekers.

Are these still real demonstrations by farmers?

It is partly because of this kind of attitude that the Dutch Farmers’ Union (LTO) and the action group Agriculturefor example, distanced themselves from Saturday’s demonstration in The Hague.

« This is not at all a demonstration of farmers », a déclaré Sjaak van der Tak de LTO Netherlands au Telegraphaccording to the newspaper Voorburg newspaper. « It is exclusively organized by the Farmers Defence Force and furthermore there are all sorts of Covid protest groups. We do not support this demonstration and we will not be present. »

The president ofAgriculture, Bart Kemp, will also stay at home on Saturday. ” If someone goes, that’s their business. I don’t know what this demonstration represents and what its purpose is. We do not support them or communicate about them. »

Are Dutch farmers becoming more radical and violent?

Overall, farmers would be more and more radical according to the weekly WirtschaftsWoche, as the polls show. And according to the counter-terrorism authority, increasingly violent groups are clinging to the protests.

Saturday, the FDF originally planned to come to the Zuiderpark with 5,000 tractors. 100,000 demonstrators were also expected. The Mayor of The Hague, Jan van Zanen, decided that a maximum of 25,000 demonstrators would be welcome and no more than two tractors. Despite the ban, however, dozens of farmers set off with their tractors. The authorities issued an emergency decree and blocked access roads and important junctions, including by army vehicles. Police also stopped convoys of tractors northwest of the city and drove them off the road.

A wheel loader, however, managed to break through the police blockade, allowing a column of trucks to enter the protest site. The wheel loader driver resisted the arrest, which reportedly injured two officials slightly. Later, another arrest took place after a stampede. The demonstration then ended peacefully, as reported in particular by the Dutch portal New harvest.

Are protests only about environmental requirements?

According to FDFthe demonstration was not only about nitrogen policy and agricultural policy, but also about the forced takeover of farms and a whole series of other social issues such as the allowances affair, the gas crisis in Groningen and flooded houses in Groningen and Limburg.

According tagesschau.de, the theme of nitrogen dominates the current election campaign. On March 15, the Dutch elect their provincial parliaments. They will then also determine the composition of the first chamber of Parliament. It is comparable to Federal Council.

According to the polls – continues tagesschau, de – a clear shift to the right is looming, with the protest party Mouvement Paysan-citoyen as the big winner. The coalition risks suffering a huge setback and may no longer be able to impose its plans.

______________

* Martina Hungerkamp works at AGRICULTURAL TODAY as a cross-media editor in the breeding section. She mainly writes about livestock farming, preferably pigs and poultry.

Source : Peasant protests in the Netherlands: who is behind them? | agrarheute.com