Police unions taking industrial action in support of their pay claim on Wednesday vowed to continue their campaign, after blocking access to several government ministries in The Hague during the morning.

Several thousand police officers took part in the blockades and the subsequent demonstration next to the parliamentary complex later in the day.

Asked by Gerrit van de Kamp, leader of the ACP union, if they felt they were being taken seriously by the government, the demonstrators answered with a resounding ‘no’.

The unions have also warned justice minister Ard van der Steur that they will come with more protests unless he draws up a new pay proposal.

The police, in line with other civil servants, have been offered a 5% pay increase and a one-off bonus payment of €500. Their unions say the deal is made up of a 2.28% rise over two years, plus 2.2% from changes to the pension policy which may affect eventual pension payouts.

Opposition

Opposition to the pay offer – which the government agreed with a number of small unions but not the FNV union federation – has been mounting since the police began their protests.

On Wednesday too, the AFMP military union said they would not accept the deal, and teachers, customs officials and tax inspectors are also angry about the agreement.

On Thursday the FNV will be in court in an effort to have the agreement overturned.

Alle agenten #politieacties gearriveerd op het Malieveld. Van der Steur uitgenodigd om ook langs te komen. pic.twitter.com/lAmq31RQAr

— Jeroen de Jager (@Geluidjager) September 16, 2015