Canadian convoys have been emulated beyond France. Opponents of health restrictions from all over the Netherlands blocked the center of The Hague on Saturday, where they are determined to stay despite calls from the police to leave the premises. In the area they occupy are the two chambers of parliament, but also the official residence of the Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
“Protesters in the center of The Hague had until 3:30 p.m. this followingnoon to leave the municipality with their vehicle,” police said on Twitter, threatening the protesters with arrest and a fine. The municipality had also banned the demonstration.
The convoy “continues to roll until fundamental and lasting changes have been made”, maintained in a press release the organizers, who demand the lifting of all health restrictions in the country. Dutch public television estimates that several hundred vehicles are blocking the famous “Binnehof”, where the decision-making centers are located.
To Brussels… or even Paris
The first demonstrators arrived at 7:30 a.m. in trucks, cars, and even tractors and caravans calling for an end to health restrictions. “For now we are staying here and we will see how it goes,” said Rutger van Lier, a 46-year-old protester and entrepreneur. Other protesters said they would continue to Brussels or Paris. The entrepreneur says he is “of course inspired by Canada. There too, people are very unhappy with the policy”.
Violent demonstrations once morest health restrictions had already taken place in the Netherlands, notably in the port city of Rotterdam but also in Amsterdam.
The Dutch government announced on Thursday that it wants to lift most measures once morest Covid-19 by February 18. Stadiums, theaters, cinemas and restaurants should then be open to visitors once more almost without restriction, explained Health Minister Ernst Kuipers. A final decision is expected to be made on Tuesday. The rest of the restrictions should then be lifted at the end of February.
