At the front of the procession from the Olympic Stadium is a tractor with a protest sign that reads: ‘Back to normal now!!’ Tractors are also leading the way from Oosterpark and Westerpark. Tractors from Friesland, Groningen and North Holland, among others, were also parked on the Museumplein.
The first ones had left at 1:00 AM to be in Amsterdam on time. Protest signs contain texts such as ‘together we are strong’, ‘don’t worry be wappie’, ‘we are tired of lies’ and ‘don’t use common sense 2g’. The farmers say they are against the corona policy and want to make their voice heard.
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Protesters at the Olympic Stadium during an action by the Netherlands in the Resistance.
Ⓒ ANP/HH
Action group The Netherlands in Resistance organizes the ‘commemoration of the coffee battle’, in which they reflect on the banned demonstration against cabinet policy on 17 January last year on the Amsterdam Museumplein, which resulted in riots.
A joint march through the city is planned from the Museumplein. Among others, initiator of the Netherlands in Resistance Michel Reijinga, Viruswaarheid leader Willem Engel and former professional football player Bryan Roy are there.
The Amsterdam triangle (municipality, police and Public Prosecution Service) has designated the locations of the demonstration as a security risk area, which means that preventive searches may be carried out. The police take into account that people come to the demonstration with weapons or illegal fireworks. Mayor Femke Halsema also made an urgent appeal to the demonstrators to adhere to the regulations. If not, the police will intervene.