Dutch riot police dispersed a far-right demonstration in central The Hague on Saturday after violence erupted as protesters gathered for a rally against government policies, including those concerning immigration. About 500 people attended the “We Are the People” protest, according to DW, citing AFP reporters at the scene.
Protesters threw fireworks and other projectiles at police. Officers responded with baton charges, specialist dogs and water cannons as they moved to break up the gathering, AFP reporters said. Police said 24 people were arrested and that further investigations were continuing.
The protesters had planned to march through the city, but local authorities banned the march after violence broke out in the park where the demonstrators were assembling. Authorities then ordered the wider demonstration to disperse.
Prime Minister Rob Jetten said on X that the protesters had deliberately sought confrontation with police and had chanted what he described as “abhorrent” far-right and antisemitic slogans. Justice Minister David van Weel called for an “extremely firm” response to what he described as “disgusting scenes.”
Van Weel said demonstrators had made Nazi salutes, used antisemitic chants, attacked police and thrown fireworks at riot officers. The source material did not provide details of injuries or damage resulting from Saturday’s clashes.
The unrest took place one year after violence at another right-wing demonstration in The Hague. During that earlier incident, according to DW, a police car was set on fire and the headquarters of the centrist D66 party was attacked.