It is unknown whether the announced blockade of airports, highways and distribution centers will continue on Monday. Farmers call on Telegram and Facebook to shut down the land on Monday at noon in a ‘mega protest’ against the cabinet’s nitrogen plans. Because there is no central organization, it is unclear how many farmers will heed the call. Authorities are preparing for all kinds of scenarios and the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee is ready to intervene at Schiphol, Rotterdam and Eindhoven airports.
‘Our picture is still blurry’, says spokesman Marcel Duyvestijn of the Haarlemmermeer municipality, which includes Schiphol. The Mayor, Public Prosecution Service and the police are in consultation with Schiphol and the Marechaussee. ‘We meet regularly. In recent years, there have been more threats to shut down the airport. We know what to do.’ The lack of a clear organization makes an assessment difficult for the authorities. ‘When Extinction Rebellion announces a demonstration at Schiphol, they report to us. We then know who is organizing it, can keep an eye on it and, if necessary, facilitate it.’ According to Duyvestijn, there is no ‘unambiguous group’ among the farmers.
Free job for emergency services
This is also apparent from calls via Telegram and Facebook. Take time off, call in sick or close your business! It’s going to be a busy day’, says the Telegram group Farmers in Revolt. Actions are only communicated ‘shortly before the start’, report administrators of the group. Consultation takes place per province in various subgroups. Mark van den Oever, foreman of Farmers Defense Force (FDF), said in an online video on Saturday that a ‘mega protest is planned’. He stressed that FDF is “organizing nothing at all”, and that he heard only “noise”, but also added that a “lane clear” will be kept on highways for “emergency”. Van der Oever: ‘People who have to go to the hospital, make sure you can cross the hard shoulder or try to get past it. Tell your story, then you can go straight through.’
‘Because of the threat, preparations are being made well,’ says Duyvestijn. Action will be taken if tractors threaten Schiphol’s infrastructure, according to him. Messages at NH News that armored vehicles are ready to intervene is ‘premature’, according to a spokesman for the Marechaussee. ‘We keep people and resources on hand. It is not yet on the agenda that we are going to use it. We want to prevent an escalation.’
He also calls it ‘uncertain’ what will happen. ‘There is little information from the farmers’ organizations.’ Groningen Airport Eelde says it has ‘understanding’ for the ‘situation in which the farmers find themselves’, but calls on the airport to be sparing on Monday. ‘To allow its services of general social interest, such as the deployment of the trauma helicopter, the ambulance service and the donor flights for the UMCG, to continue at all times, as well as to allow northerners to enjoy his or her holiday.’
March with farmer’s handkerchief
Protests erupted across the country again this weekend. In Eindhoven, hundreds of people took part in ‘the march with the farmer’s handkerchief’. At a CDA meeting in Nijkerk, farmers had gathered to express their dissatisfaction. In Gorredijk, Friesland, the ice cream factory of D66 MP Romke de Jong was blocked by tractors. The factory, which De Jong owns, has been run by his father since he became a Member of Parliament. According to De Jong, the damage from the blockade is ‘considerable’, because the factory could not be started up, the work was halted and ice deliveries could not be carried out. Ice would be supplied to the Down the Rabbit Hole music festival in Beuningen, among other things. De Jong: ‘Everything was rock solid.’
The police did not intervene all day because, according to local media, the mayor had not ordered it. Around 7 p.m., the police informed the farmers that action would be taken and requested that the blockade be lifted. When a police helicopter also appeared at 9.30 pm and police cars went to the site, the farmers left after all.
Member of parliament De Jong spoke on Saturday evening with the farmer who led the action. ‘I always want to start a conversation, but not as a result of intimidation or a blockage. I think that’s going too far, that’s not the way to protest. The farmer said he would stay until Sunday evening, so the conversation came to nothing.’ De Jong has little understanding for the action. “I understand that farmers want to make their voices heard, but it is incomprehensible and unacceptable that they do that by harming other people. Shutting down parts of the Netherlands, companies, our highways and other infrastructure is not the way to express your opinion.’
The Member of Parliament received a text message from a farmer on Saturday evening who said he would come back at 5 o’clock the next morning. That didn’t happen. ‘Even though it wasn’t at my home, it still feels very personal, and it touches me’, says De Jong. “We have also seen more serious forms of harassment in recent weeks. It’s time for it to stop.’