The demonstration of the Netherlands in Resistance Friday evening in Harderwijk went smoothly. “Fine”, says mayor Harm-Jan van Schaik with relief via Twitter. Due to the manifestation, an emergency ordinance applies in the Gelderland municipality from 4 p.m. to 4 a.m. Saturday.
Van Schaik thanks via Twitter the residents and entrepreneurs of Harderwijk for their understanding and the police for their support. According to him, his municipality has “gave room for freedom of expression”.
Demonstrators marched through Harderwijk with banners via a predetermined route to show their support for the farmers. According to the AD there were about 200 demonstrators on their feet, while Broadcasting Gelderland talking about 150. Official figures are missing.
Some wore a peasant handkerchief in solidarity with the peasants. They have recently been demonstrating en masse against the government’s nitrogen plans.
The so-called Walk of Freedom started just after 7pm and ended just after 9pm. The Netherlands in Resistance had held several protests against the corona measures during the corona pandemic. Even now, Dutch flags were carried and banners with texts such as: ‘enough is enough’ and ‘this government lies and cheats and destroys our country’.
A police bus with a camera drove in front of the group of demonstrators, and there were also officers on horseback and on foot. Police vans also drove around. Police officers were standing at the exit to Harderwijk from the A28 highway earlier in the evening.
The police were massively present in Harderwijk on Friday evening.
The police were massively present in Harderwijk on Friday evening. Photo: Luciano de Graaf
Protesters are not allowed to visit Minister Van der Wal’s home
The initiators planned to visit the home of minister Christianne van der Wal and that of Norbert Dikkeboom. At the end of last year, Dikkeboom submitted a collective declaration to the Public Prosecution Service against Willem Engel. More than 22,000 people had signed it. They argued that Engel was guilty of, among other things, sedition.
The mayor ruled that the demonstration was allowed to continue, but according to the pre-determined route. Conditions were also set for the efforts of the organization itself.
Because of the march, the municipality of Harderwijk had announced an emergency ordinance in consultation with the police and the Public Prosecution Service. This measure gives the police the opportunity, if necessary, to carry out a preventive search. The police can also ask people to leave the municipality of Harderwijk.