DutchNews.nl - DutchNews.nl brings daily news from The Netherlands in English

25 May 2025
Newsletter Donate Advertise
  • News
  • Life in the Netherlands
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
  • Search
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Art and culture
  • Sport
  • Europe
  • Society
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Housing
  • Education
  • News
    • Home
    • Economy
    • Art and culture
    • Sport
    • Europe
    • Society
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
    • Education
  • Life in the Netherlands
    • Latest
    • Opinion
    • Books
    • Travel
    • 10 Questions
    • Learning Dutch
    • Inburgering with DN
    • Food & Drink
    • Ask us anything
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
    • Team
    • Donate
    • Advertise
    • Writing for Dutch News
    • Contact us
    • Privacy
    • Newsletter
  • Search

Protests over climate activists’ arrests on incitement charges

January 27, 2023
Activists blocking the A12 last November. Photo: Nico Garstman ANP
Activists blocking the A12 last November. Photo: Nico Garstman ANP

The arrest of six climate activists on charges of incitement are a further indication of the erosion of the right to demonstrate, left wing MPs and environmental groups said on Friday.

The six were picked up on Thursday morning after urging people to blockade the Utrechtsebaan in The Hague on Saturday afternoon. They were released on Thursday afternoon but banned from approaching the A12 thoroughfare.

The public prosecution department has described the arrests as justified because the planned action would be both dangerous and disruptive.

But some MPs say the decision is undemocratic and conflicts with the approach taken towards farmers who blocked dozens of roads with their tractors. In addition, they say, the arrests were made before anything had taken place.

‘The right to demonstrate is at risk,’ Christine Teunissen, leader of the pro animal PvdD told NOS radio.

Meanwhile, an Extinction Rebellion activist who was arrested a week ago on incitement charges after encouraging people to block the road last week, has also been banned from the Utrechtsebaan on Saturday.

A court in The Hague said on Friday that the ban should remain in force until his actual case his heard next week.

‘You are free to make your opinions clear on the Malieveld or in the centre of The Hague,’ the judge said.

Demonstration

The FNV trade union, Greenpeace Nederland, Milieudefensie and six other organisations have also said they now intend to take part in Saturday’s protest. They too argue that farmers were given an easier time by police and the public prosecutor than climate activists.

The seven activists’ lawyer Willem Jebbink told the Volkskrant on Friday that his clients were being stopped from exercising in their democratic right to demonstrate.

‘On July 27, when the farmers took action in lost of places, the police told them after a discussion they could demonstrate as long as it was not for more than two hours,’ he said. ‘If climate activists are not shown the same level of tolerance, then you really are talking about unequal treatment.’

Share this article
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Copy URL
Crime Society
Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.

We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.

Make a donation
Latest
Show more
Dutch fundamentalist Protestants again say "no" to women MPs
AEX falls as Trump threatens 50% import tariff on European goods
Dutch forensic experts develop deepfake video detector
Zaanstad says yes to tourist tickets for Zaanse Schans windmills
Fewer international child abductions by parents last year
NewsHomeEconomyArt and cultureSportEuropeSocietyEnvironmentHealthHousingEducation
Life in the NetherlandsLatestOpinionBooksTravel10 QuestionsLearning DutchInburgering with DNFood & DrinkAsk us anything
About usTeamDonateAdvertiseWriting for Dutch NewsContact usPrivacyNewsletter
© 2025 DutchNews | Cookie settings

Help us to keep providing you information about coronavirus in the Netherlands.

Many thanks to everyone who has donated to DutchNews.nl in recent days!

We could not provide this service without you. If you have not yet made a contribution, you can do so here.

The DutchNews.nl team

Donate now

Dutchnews Survey

Please help us making DutchNews.nl a better read by taking part in a short survey.

Take part now