Society News

The Hague bans far-right anti-immigration march after fireworks and Nazi salutes; 24 arrested

Dutch riot police dispersed several hundred far-right protesters at the Malieveld park in The Hague on Saturday, September 19, after violence broke out and the city banned their planned march against immigration and asylum policies. The Guardian, citing broadcaster NOS, reported 24 arrests; police used pepper spray and a water cannon after some demonstrators threw fireworks and other projectiles.

The rally was organised by the group “Wij zijn het volk” (“We are the people”). Al Jazeera, citing news agency ANP, said a truck used as a stage showed a screen reading “The Netherlands is for the Dutch”, and quoted a protester telling AFP he felt the country was being lost to mass migration.

“It is important that hardline action is taken against this.” — Justice Minister David van Weel, via Al Jazeera

Prime Minister Rob Jetten said demonstrators deliberately sought confrontation and chanted “abhorrent” far-right and antisemitic slogans. A year earlier, rioters at a similar Hague rally set a police car on fire and attacked the headquarters of Jetten's D66 party.

How each outlet framed it

• The Guardian — the ban, the arrests and the offences, including illegal weapons.
• Al Jazeera — what the protesters said and showed, alongside ministers' condemnation.
• DutchNews — Jetten condemning a second year of far-right riots in the city.
• 1News — New Zealand's broadcaster carried the wire report of police breaking up the protest.

What we don't know yet: how many of those arrested will be charged.