Romke de Jong owns the company, father De Jong has been running it since his son has been in the House of Representatives. According to De Jong senior, the farmers want to speak to Romke and will continue to block the entrance to the company until he reports. There are a dozen tractors in front of the entrance. The farmers have got out and are drinking coffee at the neighbors.
“We can’t get in and we can’t get out,” he continues about the consequences of the blockade. “That means, as it stands now, that we will not be able to supply the Floriade today.” The company would also supply ice to the Down the Rabbit Hole festival, but according to De Jong, that still has enough in stock. A number of companies had also rented an ice cream truck, but De Jong had to cancel those agreements. He does not know how long the blockade will last.
The police say that a report was only made shortly after 8 a.m. that “something was happening” at the company in Gorredijk and has no indications that the situation is escalating. According to a spokeswoman, there are six or seven tractors along the road and there would be no blockage.