Farmers in the Netherlands have been protesting for several weeks against planned environmental regulations, which would lead to the closure of around 30 percent of livestock farms. Here we want to unravel what exactly it is about, which claims are true, half-true or false and how controversial organizations are using these protests.

Why are the construction workers in the Netherlands protesting?

The Dutch government has decided to radically reduce nitrogen emissions, which have been too high in the country for decades, by 2030: by around 50 percent nationwide and by more than 70 percent near nature reserves.

The problem: According to the authorities' calculations, livestock farming is primarily responsible for the nitrogen problem. There are 53,000 farms in the Netherlands and they are among the world's largest exporters of agricultural products. If the planned environmental regulations are enforced, around 30 percent of the companies would have to close, i.e. around 15,900 companies - which have often been family-owned for decades.

In particular, farms that are located near nitrogen-sensitive natural areas can then even be forced by the government to give up their businesses, which understandably causes dissatisfaction among farmers.

Is there a civil war in the Netherlands now?

No.
There are a lot of posts and videos that show burning hay bales and people rioting, coupled with the claim that there is now a civil war in the Netherlands; We also received inquiries as to whether it would be safe at all to go on holiday in the Netherlands.

In fact, farmers also set hay bales on fire, and there are actually riotous people who take advantage of the heated climate for their own benefit, but there is no civil war. Our employee Janine, a Dutch woman living in Germany, has seen this for herself: The protests are very local, but you can travel in and out of the Netherlands without any problems, without having to dodge burning hay bales and protesting farmers.

Are most of the motorways in the Netherlands closed?

No.
Depending on where the farmers are protesting, they have also blocked highways, which is why it is wise to do more research before you travel, but it is not the case that the Netherlands is "locked down" as is claimed and you cannot get in or out could.

Did the police shoot a 16-year-old with live ammunition?

Yes.
The incident was reported both the Netherlands and Germany According to the Dutch police, the situation came to a head on July 5th when several tractors drove towards the police and their cars on a motorway entrance near Heerenveen.

The police officers are said to have fired warning shots and also targeted shots, which also hit the tractor that the 16-year-old was driving. According to the boy's mother, he was on his way home, came across the police barrier and wanted to go around the barrier at the entrance to the A32 over the embankment when he was shot.

The mother also complained about why shots were fired not at the tires of the tractor, but near the cab, which could easily have killed the 16-year-old.

The 16-year-old was arrested for attempted murder, but was released a short time later and the case against him was dropped .

Are German farmers also taking part in the protests?

Yes.
In solidarity, German farmers have joined the protests in the Netherlands. Because of this, videos are circulating of tractors with German flags and the subliminal claim that farmers are now also protesting in Germany, which, however, is not true. In one of the videos that was circulated, you can clearly see Dutch traffic signs and company vehicles.

Videos are also often spread in which the mood is heated and young people, for example, kick police cars, but most of the protests are quite peaceful, as can be seen here, for example:

Controversial support for the “Farmers Defense Force”

In all the articles about the farmers' protests, the “Farmers Defense Force” is also repeatedly mentioned, which organizes and calls for protests, for example against the imprisonment of the 16-year-old . According to its own account , it was founded in 2019 to promote and protect the rights of all people and institutions in the agricultural sector.

But shortly after the founding of the “Farmers Defense Force”, the founder Mark van den Oever attracted unpleasant attention : Due to his uncompromising, rowdy and sometimes controversial behavior, Mark van den Oever became the figurehead of the farmers' resistance movement, for example he compared the treatment of the farmers Farmers with the persecution of Jews in the Third Reich.

Mark van den Oever sees himself as “ on the right side of the political spectrum ,” but would not go into politics himself. not hold back with radical statements and indirect threats against Agriculture Minister Christianne van der Wal-Zeggelink

In an interview, for example he said that it could well happen that " many more farmers could walk to the nitrogen minister's house " and that their children would be " wimps " because, according to their mother, they were afraid when a group of farmer activists met a week ago previously stood in front of the house. He also again compared the situation of the farmers with the Jews in the Third Reich.

The supporters of the “Farmers Defense Force” are also not exactly squeamish with their actions: they “visited” the house of a politician from the social-liberal party D66, who criticized van de Oever’s behavior, and smeared the name of the GroenLinks politician Jesse Klaver a coffin and threatened various ministers and MPs with death on Facebook.

Conclusion

The farmers' protests are certainly justified, as the existence of many farmers is at stake as a result of the measures without them being offered sensible alternatives. The government is now trying to talk to the farmers, but there hasn't been much movement in this regard yet.

Meanwhile, the mood continues to heat up: tractors are also sometimes blocking the entrances to the warehouses of large supermarket chains, which is why they cannot be supplied. And in the middle of it all, there are always activists from the “Farmers Defense Force” who feel incited by videos from founder Mark van den Oever, although he himself says he has nothing to do with the actions.

Further sources: Vee & Gewas , taz , proplanta

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