The Hague, Netherlands, September 21(HS): Violent clashes erupted between Dutch police and roughly 1,500 anti-immigration protesters in The Hague on Saturday, just weeks before the upcoming general elections. Police deployed tear gas and water cannons to disperse demonstrators who threw rocks and bottles, leading to 30 arrests and injuries to two officers.

Protesters blocked a major highway and set a police car ablaze while vandalizing the headquarters of the centre-left D66 party, damaging windows and prompting strong condemnation from party leader Rob Jetten. He vowed not to be intimidated by extremist rioters, calling their actions pure intimidation.

The demonstration, organized by a right-wing activist demanding tougher migration policies and a crackdown on asylum seekers, was marked by clashes with law enforcement and the display of Dutch flags alongside far-right symbols.

Far-right leader Geert Wilders, who declined to attend the protest but maintains a lead in polls ahead of the October 29 election, condemned the violence on social media, referring to the rioters as idiots and describing the attacks on police as utterly unacceptable. The unrest follows the collapse of the Dutch government in June after Wilders’ party withdrew from the coalition over disagreements on migration policy.

Caretaker Prime Minister Dick Schoof called the violence completely unacceptable and expressed confidence in law enforcement’s ability to hold perpetrators accountable. The protest atmosphere underscored rising tensions over immigration policy in the Netherlands ahead of critical elections.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar