24 Arrested As Violent Protest Erupts In The Hague, Dutch PM's Party Office Attacked

Dutch riot police broke up a far right protest in The Hague after around 500 demonstrators clashed with officers during a rally against immigration and asylum policies on Saturday. Police used water cannon, baton charges and specialist dogs after protesters threw fireworks and other projectiles at officers. Twenty four people were arrested.

The demonstration was organised by the far right group We Are The People, known in Dutch as “Wij zijn het volk”. Protesters had gathered at Malieveld, a large park in central The Hague, and planned to march through the city. Local authorities banned the march after violence erupted and later ordered the demonstration to be dispersed.

Police said the arrests involved various offences, including failure to comply with an emergency order and illegal possession of weapons. Authorities also reported that protesters threw fireworks, sticks and other objects at police. Some demonstrators continued wearing face coverings despite instructions to remove them. Further investigations are underway.

Justice Minister David van Weel called for an “extremely firm” response, describing the scenes as “disgusting”. He said demonstrators had made Hitler salutes, chanted antisemitic slogans, attacked police and thrown fireworks at riot officers. He thanked police for defending the country's democratic rule of law.

Prime Minister Rob Jetten also condemned the unrest, saying the demonstrators had deliberately sought confrontation with police and used what he described as abhorrent far right and antisemitic slogans.

The demonstration was held against the backdrop of continuing debate in the Netherlands over immigration and asylum policy. One protester told AFP that demonstrators believed the country was being lost to mass migration.

Saturday's unrest also recalled violence at a similar demonstration in The Hague a year ago. During those clashes, a police car was set on fire, while the headquarters of the centrist D66 party was attacked. Jetten, who now serves as prime minister, leads D66.

The latest violence forced authorities to end the demonstration and clear Malieveld, while police continued investigating those involved in attacks on officers and other offences.