Farmers delivered an urgent letter to the mayor and aldermen at the town hall in Borculo, Gelderland, on Monday evening. According to an ANP reporter, hundreds of people gathered with their tractors to protest against the government’s nitrogen reduction plans.
Many tractors displayed inverted Dutch flags. The area around the town hall was packed as farmers called for the current nitrogen plans to be withdrawn.
The protest was triggered by a recent letter from Agriculture Minister Jaimi van Essen. The letter states that agriculture must reduce nitrogen emissions in the form of ammonia by 23-25 per cent by 2030. To help achieve this target, the government wants dairy farmers to keep no more than 2.6 cows per hectare by 2035.
Multiple protests
Deputy Mayor Joost Olthof accepted the urgent letter on behalf of the entire Municipal Executive. He said the municipality understands the concerns and uncertainty faced by agricultural businesses and their families and takes them very seriously.
At the same time, Olthof said there are complex challenges involving agriculture, nature conservation and housing development. He noted that the Municipal Executive of Berkelland, which includes Borculo, cannot change national legislation. However, he said the municipality can show what the measures mean for Berkelland and intends to do so.
Protests also took place at many other locations across the Netherlands. Farmers gathered on motorway overpasses and alongside roads in places including Apeldoorn, Zutphen and Ermelo.
Hay bales on fire
In Zutphen, tractors were arranged to spell out the message “DE MAAT = VOL!!!” (“Enough is enough!!!”), according to photographs published by regional media.
Near Hardenberg, farmers placed white crosses in the ground at the De Witte Paal roundabout. The crosses carried names such as Antje 247 and Truus 105. A banner nearby described the display as “Van Essen’s Cow Cemetery”.
Several hay bales were set alight beside the A28 near Wezep. According to regional newspaper De Stentor, the fire brigade monitored the situation. Regional media reported that dozens, and in some places hundreds, of farmers took part in the demonstrations.
Earlier in the day, farmers also organised actions at locations including the Merwedebrug. Unlike previous protests, organisers said they deliberately avoided blocking motorways and bridges to keep the demonstrations “public-friendly”.
A national day of action has been scheduled for 14 August in Den Bosch. Farmers also plan to make their voices heard on Prinsjesdag.
@anp | NEWS BRAINPORT
