Fears spread over Gen Z riot plans across NL

There are fears that a “Gen Z” protest, inspired by the ongoing unrest that has swept through France and other countries, could hit the Netherlands over the weekend.

A report in AD found that groups on Telegram, Snapchat and other social media platforms are preparing to riot in cities including The Hague, Maastricht and Eindhoven.

While no applications for protest permits have been submitted, police have said they generally monitor online forums for signs of trouble but would not comment on this matter specifically.

The messages, which include calls to loot shopping centres, were enough to prompt school heads to issue warnings to parents in Maastricht. Limburg police backed the warnings, according to local broadcaster L1 News.

Shopkeepers in The Hague have also started boarding up their windows as a precaution, as some messaging groups are calling for gatherings on the Malieveld and attacks on commercial centres nearby, according to Omroep West.

The protests in France, which have spread to Italy and Spain began over education and living standards among young people. Many of the demonstrations quickly descended into serious rioting, often with heavy police response.

There are similar concerns in Germany, where youth groups are preparing to protest over similar issues on Halloween.