The municipality of Hoogeveen will temporarily stop removing inverted Dutch flags. It would cause too much fuss. A meeting is planned this week with the protesters who have hung the flags.
“We see that there has been a lot of discussion about it, especially in a negative sense, so we are leaving the flags hanging for the time being,” a spokesperson said. Hoogeveen would have preferred that the demonstrators had already contacted the municipality before hanging the flags. A meeting will follow shortly to discuss things.
The inverted flag is one of the symbols of the farmer’s actions. Angry farmers want to show their dissatisfaction with the government’s nitrogen policy.
Hoogeveen had asked the demonstrators last week to remove the flags before 2 p.m. Friday afternoon. They would cause unsafe traffic situations. They also hang from municipal property such as lampposts and traffic lights, which is not allowed according to Hoogeveen. Since the flags were not removed, the municipality itself took action.
In addition, there was a disturbance at the Raadhuisplein, during which some employees of the municipality were said to have been verbally abused. According to one of the bystanders, things went differently. He wanted to take pictures and would have been hindered by the employees who were removing the flags.
The inverted flags in the municipality of De Wolden may also remain. As long as they do not endanger road safety, the Municipal Executive sees no reason to remove them. An action group hung flags on lampposts in various places in the municipality last Thursday and Saturday.
Deputy Mayor Gerrie Hempen-Prent entered into talks with the demonstrators in order to reach a compromise. “They may remain as long as the signage and other signs remain clearly visible. Hanging on municipal buildings is not allowed,” a spokesperson said.
By doing so, the municipality wants to show that it stands behind the farmers. “It is an important issue,” the spokesperson continued. “We are an agricultural municipality and we also understand that they are hanging there for a reason. We did ask the action group to visit all flags again, especially to see if they are safe.”
During the summer, the flags may remain. Then there is another conversation between the municipality and the demonstrators.