Especially in the middle and east of the country, farmers are demonstrating on highways and on and off ramps. They have placed straw bales, rubbish and rubble on roads, which they have set fire to in various places. The actions are mainly in the triangle Barneveld, Zwolle and Hengelo.
Among others, the A1 at Bathmen, the A12 at Bunnik, the A30 at Ede, the A35 at Hengelo and the A50 at Apeldoorn, according to the ANWB. “It’s not like they’re driving tractors on the road this time, but they’re standing along the road.” This causes delays at the exits.
The actions could lead to complete disruption of traffic on the spot, the ANWB warns. For example, because road users are bothered by the smoke from burning hay bales.
The A28 near Harderwijk is one of the places where activists set fire to hay bales. According to Broadcasting Gelderland the fire brigade is extinguishing at the exit Voorthuizen and at the exit of the A30 at Barneveld. Waste has been dumped in various places and there are protest signs.
Roads closed by rubble and manure
In some cases, the entire road has been closed as a result of the actions, says a spokesperson for Rijkswaterstaat. He speaks of dozens of reports. The A1 from Apeldoorn to Hengelo, among others, is closed due to rubble and manure on the road. Traffic can cross the hard shoulder, but there is a traffic jam.
Traffic moves slowly between Apeldoorn-Zuid and Voorst. Traffic from Deventer to Apeldoorn ends up in a traffic jam lasting an hour. The A28 is close to Staphorst in both directions, also due to rubbish on the road.
In addition, many entrances and exits are closed, for example those of the A12 at Bunnik, Maarsbergen and Veenendaal-West. Several entrances and exits of the A30 are also closed with rubbish.
There are also delays on several N-roads, such as on the N48 at Zuidwolde and the N303 at Harderwijk. The spokesperson for the ANWB suspects that this is because tractors are on their way to the entrances or exits of the highways.
Farmers blocked the entrances and exits of (highway) roads early in the morning.
Farmers blocked the entrances and exits of (highway) roads early in the morning. Photo: GinoPress BV
Cleaning up hay bales, manure and tires will take hours
Cleaning up the hay bales, manure and tractor tires on the A1 and A50 at Apeldoorn and the A28 at Staphorst and Nijkerk will take hours, Rijkswaterstaat reports. The entrances and exits of the A12 have now been reopened, Rijkswaterstaat reports. On the A28 between Hoevelaken and Utrecht, the cleaning work is still in full swing.
Rijkswaterstaat has called on extra road inspectors. They must ensure a safe situation on site. They try to get stuff on the road as fast as possible. “But that will take some time,” said the spokesperson.
All morning, road users have to take delays into account. They are advised to check carefully before departure where the problems are and to take the situation on the road into account.
Police are monitoring the situation
The police are mapping out the actions, police spokespersons from various regions inform NU.nl. “We look at each situation whether it is appropriate to act,” says a spokesperson in Overijssel.
It is unknown if any arrests have been made. “If things get out of hand, the police will of course intervene,” a spokesperson from the Central Netherlands adds.
On Twitter, the Gelderland and Overijssel police speak of actions along highways in various places in the provinces. “Keep in mind extra long travel times, adjust your journey where necessary. The emergency lanes are currently accessible for emergency services,” said the police of Gelderland and Overijssel.