The fire-lit protest in the gas province took place in a good atmosphere and therefore continued, despite the extra 250 million euros announced on Friday for a large-scale subsidy for making homes more sustainable. After all, the doubling of gas production in 2022 will continue and there are still countless problems surrounding the reinforcement of homes, reason the initiators of the protest.
Sparks flew through the air on Saturday night. Due to the strong wind, some torches burned like a winch. Participants had to quickly put them in the gutter. The mood was not affected. There was singing and slogans shouted. Runners ranging from young students to older people from Groningen carried flags and protest signs. Loud horns echoed through the city.
,,Here we go again”, it sounds from several mouths. Four years ago, ten thousand people walked a similar round. Hemmo Battjes from Slochteren (municipality of Midden-Groningen) has brought the Groningen flag with him this edition. He wants to make a proud statement from the gas field. ,,It is important to participate, although I don’t expect much from it. There are too many sweet talks… And yet gas goes to the Germans”, he says at the full Vismarkt. He sympathizes with his fellow provincials. “I passed the first round of the subsidy scheme. But it was known in advance that it would be too short for everyone. My wife has tried this round to request it for her mother.”
Hemmo Battjes (l) and Adolf Zuidhof (r).
Ⓒ Andrew Spanish.
Companion of the region Adolf Zuidhof from Schildwolde (Midden-Groningen) adds: ,,I had already succeeded in that first round, but unfortunately many others did not. They were in line all day this week for the second round, often for nothing. That’s politics… We’re getting cheated again.”
Support also came from the wider northern region. A group of Frisians came to Groningen to walk along and showed Frisian flags, about which arch-rivals the Groningers made jokes despite the serious action. In addition, sixty farmers with tractors were present in the city. The tractors were parked along the trail, with lights and horns. Many farms in the province of Groningen are dealing with extensive damage to barns, stables and manure cellars.
Organizer Chris Garrit, previously known in the Martini city as ‘the night mayor’, said: ,,We have to endure a lot, but we also belong to the Netherlands. We want safety and compensation in return.” Co-organizers were an interest group for victims of the Groninger Soil Movement (GBB), Groninger Gasberaad and Member of Parliament Sandra Beckerman (SP). De Groningse has been critical of gas policy and the settlement of damage caused by gas extraction for years.
Thousands of people took to the streets with torches to demand respect from national politicians for the province.
Ⓒ Raymond Roersma / ProNews
Members of Parliament Henk Nijboer and Lilianne Ploumen of the PvdA also attended. “It is a pity that this has to be done,” said the former minister to Rtv Noord. As a Limburger she feels related to the people of Groningen.
Johan Derksen
Support also came from within the country. Prior to the tour, journalist Johan Derksen made himself heard via a video message on social media to the organization. “It disturbs me immensely how the people in Groningen are treated by the government. There are people who have been waiting for a fee for their house for ten years. How long will Groningen have to accept this for?” Derksen:,,The most disappointing thing is that the Randstad does not show solidarity at all. It’s outrageous.”