Dutch farmers have been protesting the Dutch government’s nitrogen policy for several weeks. Minister Christianne van der Wal is especially head of Jut, yesterday her private home was attacked by angry farmers who pushed through a police blockade. Why are these farmers so angry?
The reason for the protest is a plan that Minister Christianne van der Wal (Nature and Nitrogen) recently sent to the House of Representatives. In her opinion, ammonia emissions from agriculture must be reduced by an average of 40 percent, so that nature is no longer overloaded. According to the plans, virtually no more emissions may take place in protected nature areas, according to the minister a reduction of 70 percent is necessary immediately. According to her, only then will it be possible to sufficiently reduce the nitrogen load on nature.
Provinces must make plans in the coming year to achieve the goals. Especially for livestock farmers who have a business in or right next to protected areas, it is highly questionable whether they can stay there if the minister’s requirements stand.
The law stipulates that 74 percent of nature that is classified as ‘nitrogen sensitive’ may no longer be overloaded by 2035. Scientists have determined the so-called Critical Deposition Value (KDW). If the amount of ammonia and nitrogen oxides exceeds these values, there is a risk that nature will be “significantly affected”. Angry farmers find those values unrealistic and want them removed from the law.
Furthermore, the demonstrators argue for “proportionate tasks for all sectors”. He also says that the cabinet itself wants it. In the coming months, plans will be made for industry and traffic to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions.
Flanders
The nitrogen problem also plays a role in Flanders. At the beginning of this year, the Flemish government concluded the nitrogen agreement, which stipulates, among other things, that 41 farms with a red code — the so-called ‘peak loaders’ — must stop their activities by 2025. In an initial version in 2014, this list of ‘peak tax collectors’ still consisted of 135 companies, after criticism it was reduced to 54 companies in 2015 and 41 companies remained in the recent crocus agreement of the Flemish government.
Nevertheless, the nitrogen agreement continues to arouse a lot of resistance among Flemish farmers. Flemish Environment Minister Zuhal Demir (N-VA) filed a complaint last week after threats at a farmers’ protest in Merksplas. At that protest, a doll had been hung on a gallows with the inscription “Demir aan de noose”.
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