Farmers in large tractors blocked bridges, distribution centers and access roads on Monday. Public order is therefore at stake, since the transport of foodstuffs is not possible and emergency services and the police do not have free passage.
Yet there are still no mayors in the Northern Netherlands who prohibit demonstrations with tractors, on the basis of their task to monitor ‘public order and safety’.
Two years ago this was still done in the safety regions of Groningen, Flevoland Utrecht and the Gooi and Vecht region. Due to the corona crisis, the Security Region then dealt with the right to demonstrate. That authority now rests with the local mayor.
‘It happens peacefully’
Mayor of Groningen, Koen Schuiling, decided in 2020 as chairman of the Groningen Security Region to ban tractor demonstrations, but is not considering this now, says a spokesperson for the Schuiling. “They were recently here at the provincial government, but then we had clear agreements with farmers. They have adhered to that very well.”
In Aa en Hunze, where the COOP distribution center was blocked on Monday, such a ban on demonstrating with the tractor is not being considered. Mayor Anno Wietze Hiemstra: “Farmers are making use of their right to demonstrate today. We see that happening in a peaceful manner.”
Also in Central Drenthe, acting mayor Cees Bijl does not yet want to ban demonstrating with tractors. In the municipality, the distribution center of the Jumbo in Beilen was blocked by farmers all day. “It doesn’t matter what kind of vehicle you demonstrate with, it’s how the demonstration goes. I have to consider how order and security relate to the fundamental right to demonstrate. To this day, I let that spill over into the right of demonstration.” According to Bijl, emergency services can still use the roads and Jumbo employees can also leave the site. “Basically, the traffic continues. At most you have to drive a little bit.”
Police remove tractors without license plates from the road
At the moment there are still many tractors driving around without a license plate. Since July 1, this is no longer allowed. Actually not before, but a ‘leniency arrangement’ has been agreed for another six months so that all tractor owners could arrange a number plate on time.
“We will certainly maintain that,” said a police spokesman. “It is mandatory, and because of the leniency arrangement, there is no one who could not have known in advance.”
According to the spokesperson, enforcement can be done in two ways. “Or colleagues take the vehicle off the road on the spot. Or they can trace the owner afterwards on the basis of images and testimonials. It is not allowed, let that be clear.”