Municipalities have been struggling with protest flags for weeks: should they go or not? The municipality of Zwolle now believes that the flags should be removed at least on Monday because of the National Indies commemoration. Meppel soon followed, but many other municipalities seem to be taking no action. This is apparent from a tour of NU.nl along ten municipalities in rural areas.
An earlier tour of NU.nl showed that many (farming) municipalities do not know what to do with protest flags. Not every municipality wanted to remove the flags, for example because they do not want to go against the large farmer support among their own inhabitants.
The municipality of Zwolle has now decided to remove the protest flags out of respect for the National Indies Remembrance on Monday. Meppel followed suit.
During the commemoration, the Japanese occupation in the former Dutch East Indies (present-day Indonesia) is commemorated. On 15 August 1945, the Dutch East Indies was liberated from the Japanese occupying forces.
Lochem calls on residents to remove flags
While Zwolle and Meppel believe that opponents of the nitrogen policy have now made their point, many other municipalities in rural areas are holding their ground. The municipality of Heerenveen also says that it is “not difficult about the inverted flags”. However, there is an exception: for the memorial service on Monday, all protest flags will be removed from the Indies monument in the city center.
Heerenveen is not the only municipality that is taking action because of the commemoration on Monday. For example, Lochem calls on residents to remove the flag before August 15.
The Gelderland municipality has received many complaints from veterans and other residents about the protest flags. They find the reversal of the flags “hurtful” and ask the municipality to remove them.
Although Lochem will not remove the flags itself for the time being, the municipality calls on citizens to do so out of respect for the commemoration. “It would be a very nice gesture if the protest flags were removed of their own accord before August 15,” says the municipality. “We have given space to the protest in this form. Now we also want to give space to the feelings of residents who find the inverted flag hurtful.”
No danger to road safety
Other municipalities see no reason to remove the flags. For example, the municipalities of Apeldoorn and Barneveld maintain their previous position.
The first mentioned municipality sees the flags mainly in surrounding villages. “Apeldoorn still leaves a lot behind, but will remove some flags soon,” the municipality said.
Barneveld invokes the right to demonstrate: “The inverted flags and outstretched farmers handkerchiefs are an expression of protest. The municipality recognizes the right to demonstrate.” The flags may therefore remain in the air, unless they lead to unsafe traffic situations.
That is also a reason for Assen not to intervene. “The flag protest is a form of peaceful demonstration,” says the municipality. In addition, the flags do not pose a threat to “road safety, public order or health”.
The municipality of Dinkelland refers to the province: “In Dinkelland most flags hang on provincial objects and much less on municipal objects.” In addition, Dinkelland understands the concerns of the farmers: “We maintain our position that the flags may remain for the time being.” Provided they do not pose a road safety hazard.
Leeuwarden deploys ‘no extra manpower’
Other municipalities say that in their view the problem is not big enough to intervene. Like the municipality of Leeuwarden, which says that the “flags simply aren’t there”. If they can be removed during regular work, that will happen. But no extra manpower is being deployed, the municipality explains.
Krimpen aan den IJssel also hardly sees protest flags in public: “It does not apply to us.”
Other municipalities simply don’t know yet. Eemnes, for example: “We are still discussing the removal of the flags in consultation with the farmers’ organizations. As far as the municipality of Eemnes is concerned, the flags will be tolerated until after Pulling Eemnes (a farmers’ festival on August 26 and 27, ed.).”
In short: most municipalities do not seem to seize the National Indies Remembrance as a moment to remove the flags (for a while). Municipalities have many reasons not to intervene now and do not seem to want to brush against the farmers’ hair. Only Heerenveen and Lochem make concrete commitments. It therefore seems that the flags will remain part of the streetscape for the time being.