Dutch authorities deployed tear gas and water cannons on Saturday to quell a violent anti-immigration demonstration in The Hague.
Law enforcement officials confirmed the arrest of thirty individuals, and two officers sustained injuries during clashes with large groups of protestors. Reports indicate that some demonstrators threw rocks and bottles at police.
Approximately 1,500 individuals blockaded a major highway traversing the city, and a police vehicle was reportedly set ablaze, according to figures cited by the Netherlands news agency ANP.
Prime Minister Dick Schoof strongly condemned the events, describing the “shocking and bizarre images of shameless violence” as “completely unacceptable.”
Geert Wilders, leader of the right-wing party that secured the most votes in the previous Dutch election and remains ahead in opinion polls leading up to the October 29 vote, had been invited to address the demonstration but ultimately did not attend.
Wilders also publicly denounced the violence against the police, labeling it “utterly unacceptable” and attributing it to the actions of “idiots.”
The protest was organized by a right-wing activist advocating for stricter migration policies and heightened restrictions on asylum seekers.
Tensions escalated as large groups of protestors, many displaying Dutch flags and flags associated with far-right organizations, confronted security forces.
Demonstrators also vandalized the headquarters of the center-left D66 party, which is often perceived by those on the far-right as representing a progressive elite.
D66 leader Rob Jetten reported extensive damage to the interior of the building and urged the protestors to “stay away from political parties.”
“If you think you can intimidate us, tough luck. We will never let extremist rioters take away our beautiful country,” he stated on social media platform X.
According to party officials cited by ANP, the D66 offices were unoccupied at the time of the protests.
The Dutch government collapsed in June following the withdrawal of Wilders’ far-right PVV party from the governing coalition due to disagreements over migration policy.
The dispute arose after Wilders proposed ten additional asylum measures, including a freeze on applications, a halt to the construction of reception centers, and limitations on family reunification.
The coalition government had been in power for less than a year.
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