“Schiphol is vital. That must be able to continue,” says Ollongren. She called on the farmers not to come to Schiphol to demonstrate. The roads to the airport must remain free.
The Royal Netherlands Marechaussee is responsible for the security of Schiphol. The Marechaussee has already brought heavy equipment such as armored vehicles to the airport in connection with the announced action, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense said.
The Ministry of Defense also has heavy trucks with low loaders ready so that seized tractors can be removed. Earlier this week, the armed forces also supported the police in this way.
Security Risk Area
The triangle of Haarlemmermeer (mayor, police, Public Prosecution Service and Marechaussee) supplemented with Schiphol are in the highest state of alert. On Friday they discussed the possible protests around the airport next Monday. “Schiphol is a security risk area. Especially now that the challenge is to facilitate the large group of passengers traveling in and out as quickly and effectively as possible, blockades would pose unacceptable risks,” said Mayor Schuurmans after the meeting.
“I trust everyone’s common sense. But let it be clear that we do not accept when public order and safety are at stake,” said mayor Schuurmans. According to the spokesman for the mayor, the scenarios are ready. “As a matter of fact, these are rumours. No announced demonstration has yet been reported.”
Right to demonstrate
According to the Marechaussee spokesperson, they are preparing for possible scenarios by keeping an eye on all information channels. “We are not going to anticipate anything that may come. We cannot say anything about which units and resources we will deploy.”
The right to demonstrate in the Netherlands is great, both spokespersons agree. “Of course there can be demonstrations and we want to participate in that, but blocking the road and certainly around Schiphol, we will not tolerate that. It may not be that bad, but at least we are prepared,” said spokesperson for the mayor of Haarlemmermeer.
Schiphol is in close contact with the Municipality of Haarlemmermeer and the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee about the possible consequences for the airport of the farmers’ protest on Monday 4 July. “We call on travelers to come to the airport by public transport as much as possible on Monday and to prepare well by consulting the current information on our website or via that of the airline,” said the Schiphol spokesperson.
“Faced with radical measures by the government, it is logical that farmers push the limits of the right to demonstrate. Stupid and inadmissible that a number goes beyond that,” says reporter Wierd Duk in a new episode of the podcast Het Land van Wierd Duk: