Dutch police arrested 24 people on Saturday during clashes with around 500 far-right protesters in central The Hague, after participants threw fireworks and other projectiles at riot police during an anti-immigration gathering. Witnesses said police used batons, trained dogs and water cannon to disperse the protesters, detaining several of them.
Police and prime minister condemn rioting
Police later confirmed the number of arrests, saying they had used water cannon to disperse those they described as rioters, and that investigations into the events were still under way. Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten said in a post on X that the protesters had deliberately sought confrontation with police and chanted far-right and antisemitic slogans that he described as “disgusting”.
Justice Minister David van Weel, for his part, stressed in a post on the same platform the importance of “taking firm action” over the conduct of some participants. He referred to Nazi salutes, antisemitic slogans, violence against police and fireworks being thrown at riot police.
The gathering was organised under the name “We the People” in protest against the Dutch government's policies, particularly its immigration policy. Participants had planned to set off on a march through the city, but local authorities banned it after violence broke out in the park where they had gathered, and ordered the protest to be dispersed.
