Lammers (77) demonstrated together with other activists at the provincial government building in Haarlem on March 3, 2025. They blocked the way out of the parking garage with a banner.
Images (see the video above, ed.) show that provincial politician Van Tiggelen first drove through the banner and then hit Lammers. She suffered a concussion and complaints to her knee and back. Van Tiggelen then drove on. He said in court that he had not seen Lammers.
Extra responsibility and role model
But that ‘cannot be true’, the Haarlem court found in today’s judgment. She finds Van Tiggelen guilty of attempting to inflict serious bodily harm, leaving the scene of an accident and disrupting a demonstration.
“Van Tiggelen is a democratically elected representative, just like a Member of Parliament,” press judge Dirk Straathof explains. “In that role, he has an additional responsibility and sets an example in protecting the fundamental democratic right to demonstrate.”
Activist Lammers says she is happy with the verdict. “I wouldn’t want anyone to go to jail for such a stupid action.” However, he will be sentenced to 200 hours of community service and will have to surrender his driver’s license for one year, six months of which will be conditional. He must also pay Lammers 1,100 euros and receive a conditional prison sentence of one month.
‘Theatre’
Van Tiggelen did not appear today, but a handful of IJmuiden residents expressed their dissatisfaction with Lammers. They did this just outside the court and inside, in the hall in front of the courtroom. Despite the images of the collision, they believe that Lammers is acting. She is said to have allowed herself to be hit several times during demonstrations.
The group includes the well-known anti-corona demonstrator Marco Buis and Velsens Forum for Democracy municipal councilor Joost Broekman. In the video above you can see how Buis pushes a fellow demonstrator of Lammers in court.
Lammers: “Of course everyone has the right to demonstrate, but I think they are rude.”