Chaotic scenes in the Netherlands. What began as a protest for stricter asylum policies ended in open street fighting on Saturday. In The Hague, hundreds of rioters engaged in violent clashes with the police. Stones, bottles, and fireworks were thrown.

The result: burning police cars, injuries, and numerous arrests.

Police car in flames – officers use tear gas

The situation escalated when thousands of people joined a protest organized by a right-wing activist. According to BILD, large groups clashed with the police. A police car was set on fire and a highway was briefly blocked. According to police reports, tear gas and water cannons were used to disperse the violent demonstrators. At least 30 people were arrested and two police officers were injured.

According to Tagesschau, a group of around 1,500 demonstrators marched onto the A12 motorway, which runs through The Hague, bringing traffic to a standstill. The riots continued in the city center. Rioters smashed the windows of the headquarters of the left-liberal D66 party.

Flags with a Nazi past and harsh words from Wilders

Particularly controversial: according to reports by Welt and Tagesschau, some demonstrators waved orange, white, and blue flags. These so-called prince flags once served as a symbol of the National Socialist Movement (NSB) in the Netherlands and are now used by right-wing extremists.

The violence sparked horror across party lines. Minister of Justice Foort van Oosten said:

“The right to demonstrate is a precious commodity, but hands off our police officers!”

Even the well-known populist and anti-immigration activist Geert Wilders, who was actually invited as a speaker but did not attend, found clear words. He condemned the violence against the police as “completely unacceptable” and described the attackers as “idiots,” as BILD quotes from one of his messages on the X platform. He called for the rioters to be dealt with “toughly.” The riots are taking place a good month before the parliamentary elections in the Netherlands, in which the issue of migration plays a central role.

Credits: APA