Farmers’ protests caused a lot of nuisance all day Monday. Numerous highways were blocked, the home of Minister Van der Wal (Nature and Nitrogen) was visited again and numerous fires were also started. Actions are also on the agenda for Tuesday, say farmers’ organizations Agractie and Farmers Defense Force. However, they say that they do not organize the actions.
Roadblocks and long traffic jams
Several highways in the country were blocked by farmers with tractors. That started just after noon, when Rijkswaterstaat reported the first blockages by tractors and hay bales on the road, including on the A2 towards Den Bosch.
It was also hit in the north of the country. Thirty to sixty farmers drove onto the highway on the A28 from Hoogeveen to Assen. The blockade that the police had set up turned out not to be able to withstand the farmers, but later the police managed to stop the farmers after all, after which fines were handed out.
The A50, the A7 and the local road N324 were also blocked by protesting farmers. Towards the evening rush hour the worst problems on the road seemed to pass, but in the evening new actions emerged.
The A12 towards Germany was blocked again around 7 p.m. There were problems with the A28 from before the evening rush hour. At the Hattemerbroek junction, a few tractors stood unattended on the road. Police and ME were on the spot and continued to talk with the farmers. In the meantime, the farmers handed out homemade chips.
Farmers visit Media Park and home of the minister
Around 8.15 pm reports came in that tractors had been seen at Hilversum Mediapark. A NU.nl journalist who was on site saw that they were driving towards the NOS building.
A police spokesperson said that the farmers at Mediapark Hilversum are “in good conversation” with the police on the spot. She also indicated that the atmosphere is calm. Later in the evening the farmers left.
There were also farmers again at the house of Minister Christianne van der Wal. She was not at home at the time. It was the second time the farmers came to her house.
Actions and fires at town halls
Several town halls, including those in Apeldoorn, were visited by farmers on Monday, during which bales of hay were set on fire.
That also happened on the highways. For example, a fire was set on the A1 road. The highway from Deventer to Germany was closed in the evening near the Holten-Lochem exit. The fire brigade and police were on the spot, wrote Tubantia†
New promotions expected on Tuesday
Both farmers’ group Agractie and Farmers Defense Force say that there will be actions again on Tuesday, although they say they are not organized by the two clubs. The actions would come from separate groups from the province.
The House of Representatives debated the nitrogen plans last week. The vote on motions submitted by the parties is scheduled for Tuesday.