On Thursday in The Hague, Environment Minister Christian van der Waal demanded that farmers’ unions accept the government’s offer to negotiate. However, the largest interest group LTO rejected talks with the government-appointed arbitrator. Other organizations had previously rejected the offer.
Farmers protest: 19 arrests on Thursday morning
Clashes again broke out with the farmers on Thursday night. In Blijswijk, near The Hague, mobile police forces intervened and lifted the blockade of several large supermarket warehouses. 19 protesters, including nine minors, were provisionally arrested.
There were protests elsewhere in the country as well. About 200 farmers with tractors demonstrated in front of the provincial administration in Arnhem. Elsewhere, farmers also set fire to bales of hay along highways.
Dutch farmers protest environmental regulations
Farmers in the Netherlands have been protesting tough environmental regulations for weeks. Among other things, tractor demonstrations, clashes in front of a politician’s private house and blockade of supermarket godowns took place.
The government wants to reduce nitrogen emissions by 50 percent nationwide and by more than 70 percent in natural areas by 2030. According to government calculations, this could wipe out about 30 percent of livestock farms. Farmers reacted angrily and blocked highways and supermarket chains’ large warehouses with tractors.
