Farmers say proposed adjustments will mean some will lose their jobs
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Mayor Kees van Rooij of Meierijstad meets farmers in protest against dutch government’s ambitious plans for nitrogen emissions in Veghel
Armed with colorful tractors and trucks, Dutch farmers on Monday continued their war against the government’s proposal to reduce emissions of pollutants such as nitrogen oxide and ammonia by 50 percent.
Farmers in the Netherlands say the move unfairly targets them and shows little attention for its long-term and the country’s lucrative agricultural sector. The plan, they say, will result in the relief of livestock and the acquisition of some farms whose cattle produce giant amounts of ammonia.
Provincial governments have had a year to formulate plans to reach the target, which must then be implemented until 2030.
A video posted on social media reportedly showed farmers throwing manure to barricade the German-Dutch border, while others deposited the substance in front of government buildings. Videos shared online last week also showed angry farmers attacking police cars with wooden sledgehammers.
Ports have also reportedly been blocked by fishermen, while at Schiphol airport they have suggested travellers use public shipping to reach their terminals, fearing the blockade will only target airports.
The transit government warned motorists to prepare for delays and imaginable slow tractors on the country’s roads, but said there were few disturbances early Monday for commuters, perhaps because many other people opted to work from home rather than get stuck in traffic.
A sign reads “Our farmers, our future” as about 25 tractors form an open-air blockade at a distribution center of the Albert Heijn supermarket chain in the town of Zaandam, just north of Amsterdam.
As tractors piled up outdoors in parliament last month, Prime Minister Mark Rutte said farmers had the right to protest but not to break the law.
“Freedom of expression and the right to protest are important elements of our democratic society and I will protect them,” Rutte said.
“But. . . you can’t settle for creating harmful situations, you can’t settle for intimidating officials, we’ll never settle for that. “
Mayor Kees van Rooij of Meierijstad meets farmers in protest against dutch government’s ambitious plans for nitrogen emissions in Veghel
Getty ANP/AFP
A sign reads “Our farmers, our future” as about 25 tractors form an open-air blockade at a distribution center of the Albert Heijn supermarket chain in the town of Zaandam, just north of Amsterdam.
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