When farmers give a – rare – press conference, they don’t sit behind a table in a conference center in three-piece suits. In Eerbeek a table was set in front of a few hay bales, with a microphone on it, but in the end the speakers climbed on the hay bales to make their point clear. Farmer William Schoonhoven did not wear a spotless white blouse, but clogs and a Nexit shirt.
Future actions
“We have now been campaigning in the country for fourteen days,” he told his audience. “That has always happened within the limits of the law. But the result is that we are laughed at by politicians. That is why we continue to campaign, but in a way that the Netherlands has never seen before. We don’t do that for fun.” Afterwards, Schoonhoven did not want to explain what he means by that. “We’re not going to say anything about that now.” Are they advancing to The Hague? “That might just be,” said another speaker. The actions are being discussed in – closed – WhatsApp groups, it was told.
The farmers do not feel taken seriously by those responsible in The Hague, such as Prime Minister Rutte, Minister Staghouwer (Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality) and Van der Wal (Nature and Nitrogen). “They are invisible, just continue with their disastrous plan. They are not interested in listening to us, because we have also developed plans ourselves to reduce nitrogen, which is already happening a lot in our sector. They want to chase the farmers away. And now go on holiday for the time being.” Another farmer added: “They just want our land!”
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APA Arnhem Press Agency
No conversation with Remkes
They are not going to talk to Johan Remkes, appointed to mediate between politics and the farmers’ organisations, they indicated once again. “This is the man who came up with the nitrogen plans. He also only wants to talk to us if the plan continues.” The farmers are steadfast: then there will be no discussion.
The press conference was held next to paper factory De Hoop. The demonstrators wanted to indicate that they are not the main cause of the problems. “This factory has permission to cut down five hectares of forest, while a farmer a little further has to significantly reduce nitrogen,” said a combative Schoonhoven. Reductions of 95 percent are mentioned. “This factory is number four in Gelderland when it comes to nitrogen emissions!”
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APA Arnhem Press Agency
no blame
Manager Robert Minnesma of De Hoop did not reproach the farmers before the convened press conference just outside the gates of his company. “We understand their situation, and we have good contact with the people behind this campaign,” he told De Telegraaf. “The industrial park is blocked here, our trucks have also suffered from it, but we have not had any downtime as a company.”
Schoonhoven called on the Dutch to continue to support the farmers. ,,We still feel incredible support from society and we are very grateful for that. Do not forget that there is a risk that less food will be available in our country. If we become dependent on imports from abroad, citizens will notice. Rutte and Minister Kaag are not, but they can afford it. Everything is getting more expensive, and politics doesn’t even have the beginnings of a solution. The whole world is already watching what is happening in the Netherlands, so people: wake up and get up.”