Farmers on tractors from Noord-Holland and Friesland caused long delays on the Afsluitdijk, the dyke which connects the two provinces across the Ijsselmeer lake, with a protest ‘go slow’ on Friday afternoon.

The procession of tractors over the dyke is the latest in a string of protests by farmers who say they are bearing the brunt of government efforts to get nitrogen-based pollution under control.

The Noord Holland farmers made a symbolic acceptance of the Frisian flag, to show their wish to be part of the northern province. Several provinces, including Friesland, have already agreed to suspend the special measures after farmers blockaded town halls earlier this month.

‘Farmers in Noord-Holland want the nitrogen measures to be suspended here as well, as they are in Friesland,’ organiser Rob Smit told broadcaster NOS. ‘Noord-Holland is run by urbanites who are not connected to farmers, and don’t listen to them either.’

The Noord-Holland farmers are hoping to collect 5,000 signatures on a petition which would mean the province would have to debate the issue.

Farmers held protests in several other parts of the country as well, including Den Bosch, where the Frisian flag was also much in evidence.