Activists wanted to stop slaughterhouses from Dutch world market leader veal ‘

For the ESA slaughterhouse in Apeldoorn, two transport cars with roaring cattle are parked on Monday at the end of the morning. One of the drivers smokes a cigarette next to his car, he can’t go on the site yet. Due to the occupation of European animal rights activists from 269 Libération Animale, who started in the night from Sunday to Monday, and broken up during the morning, the transport was considerably delayed.

And that is not only the case with ESA. Also Ameco – which calls itself ‘an innovative beef processor’ – and Ekro, which was also occupied in 2021had to deal with an occupation. In total, about a hundred activists invaded in one night at six slaughterhouses: three in Apeldoorn, one in Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel, and two in France, in Boulazac and Châteauubourg.

In Apeldoorn, the police arrested ‘around forty people’ on suspicion of destruction and house breach. In Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel nine. According to French media, “several people” were also arrested in France.

The animals are stuck even longer before they are slaughtered than usual

“They were already talking about it in the app group,” says a driver who is waiting at Ameco to pick up slaughter waste. “Those activists want to protect calves, but today the effect is counterproductive, because the animals are stuck even longer before they are slaughtered than usual.”

But the activists are not just about the effect they achieve today, according to the Videos on their Instagram page. “We want Total Liberation”says A4 that they hang in the slaughterhouses. The videos also show how the activists stabbed in black penetrate ESA around three o’clock in the night, equipped with headlights and the chains with which some would later chain themselves outside.

Bull

The activists supported the 269 Life Movement, based on ‘Kalf 269’, which was saved in 2012 by anonymous activists from an Israeli slaughterhouse. The bull became a symbol. The French branch, 269 Libération Animale, describes itself as a ‘radically and by women -led antispeciesist collective’ – referring to the philosophical idea that people are not superior to animals. They focus on “the biggest names in animal exploitation and slaughter in Europe.”

The six slaughterhouses are all part of the Dutch Vandrie Group, the world market leader in veal. “The triple empire brought to a halt”-calls 269 Libération Animale the action. That empire originated in “the early 60s of the last century,” says the site of Vandrie. When “Jan van Three Senior bought his first calf from a dairy farmer”.

The ability of the three family is in the latter Quote 500 estimated at 1.7 billion

More than sixty years later, it turns out From the annual report of 2023it concerns around 1.4 million calves and 140,000 cattle per year. Around 2,700 employees work at branches in the Netherlands, but also in Belgium, France, Italy and Germany. Quote writes at the beginning of this year That the net profit of the “slaughterhouses empire” has risen to a record of 134 million euros that same year, at a turnover of 3.2 billion. The ability of the three family is in the latter Quote 500 estimated at 1.7 billion – “an increase of 21.4 percent” compared to the year before.

That money, says animal rights organization Dier & Recht, is “earned over the back of defenseless calves.” Since February 2024, this organization has been conducting a lawsuit against VANDRIE, which it calls “the uncrowned king of Kal -Drillen.” The case aims to “put an end to the illegal calf transports between Ireland and the Netherlands”.

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Animal welfare

More than a million calves are born in Ireland a year. But the bulls and two thirds of the female calves are considered surplus, and they don’t have room for it. Dutch companies in particular are interested in these animals, which they purchase in bulk, at prices of 5 euros per animal. Vandrie is the main importer of these Irish animals.

Much attention has been paid to transport between Ireland and the Netherlands in recent years. According to the EU Regulation 1/2005 may “more than fourteen days old” calves on transport. They must get “after a 9 -hour transport time” at least an hour of rest, in which they have to be “soaked and fed if necessary.” Then they can “be transported again for 9 hours”. And that is too long according to other committees, such as the EURCAW animal welfare.

During the crossing from Ireland to the Netherlands, the animals get nothing for thirty hours. That entire route has been recorded by three animal welfare organizations: L214 from France, Ethical Farming Ireland and the Dutch Eyes on Animals. Their images, which show that the animals are beaten with sticks and paddles on arrival Zembla broadcast.

‘Unlawfulness’

Last month, the case, Dier & Recht writes in a press release, was still dealing with the court. In addition, Vandendrie Group, while it “denied this, gave it, [ditmaal ] It is that it organizes the transports from Ireland to the Netherlands itself ”. Dier & Law hoped for a decision, but the judge referred the case to ‘an administrative enforcement process’. Dier & Recht writes “to continue fighting for these vulnerable calves.”

After the occupation of 269 Libération Group, Vandendrie Group instructed animal employees not to respond to questions. They have posted a statement online: “Several of our companies [zijn] Visited by campaigners where there have been irregularities. We reject these irregularities. ” They “naturally comply with all applicable laws and regulations.” “Animal health, animal welfare and food safety” are central.

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