Organisers of Friday afternoon’s farmers’ protest in Zeeland modified their demonstration following a fatal road accident in North Brabant. “We will begin with a minute’s silence before driving faster than originally planned to Burgh-Haamstede to reduce the risk of further accidents,” said organiser and Zeeland BBB provincial councillor Kees Hanse. “Altering the route wasn’t an option, as we had already made firm agreements with the police.”
Following a series of speeches, several hundred farmers horn-honking set off from a car park in Zierikzee, Zeeland, in tractors and farm vehicles at around 2:15 pm. Their procession took them along the N59—a key route heavily used by holidaymakers—to protest against the cabinet’s nitrogen reduction targets. Banners attached to the tractors displayed slogans such as “this cabinet is rubbish” and “choke on your nitrogen”.
The demonstration was also staged in solidarity with five poultry farms in North Brabant, which face having their environmental permits revoked by provincial authorities over nitrogen emissions. Earlier on Friday morning, a fatal collision occurred in a tailback caused by tractors travelling towards a separate protest at the North Brabant provincial government offices.
Local farmer Lennard Klap, from Wissenkerke, explained he was joining the convoy to oppose the nitrogen regulations and stand by his fellow farmers. “With the mountain of red tape being introduced, it will eventually become impossible to keep a farm running,” Klap said.
@anp | NEWS BRAINPORT
