All farmers arrested in Drenthe released

The farmers' protests in the Netherlands were continued early this morning (July 8) at a waste processing company in Drenthe. The protest action has led to several dozen arrests. All protestors were released in the afternoon, the police reported.

Protesting farmers today turned to waste management company Attero in Wijster, Drenthe. The company would emit more nitrogen than allowed under the permit. Farmers are frustrated that, unlike this type of farm, they are subject to strict controls. They then blocked access to the waste processing company with tractors.

Also tumult in Assen
The police responded with a great show of force. The ME was also on site to quell the protest. That led to several dozen arrests. 57 people, including 5 minors, were arrested. A bus of the Custodial Institutions Service transported the detainees to the police station in Assen. Dozens of farmers and citizens gathered there too. The area was cordoned off by the police as a precaution.

In the province of Drenthe, just like in Friesland and Groningen, a ban on demonstrations with tractors applies until Monday 13 July. The ban follows farmers' announcement of daily protests across the country. In recent days, distribution centers of supermarkets and highways have been the target in particular.

'Too dangerous'
The protests are a response to the concentrate control which was announced last week in The Hague. Farmers are angry that they are being forced to use less protein in their concentrates. Farmers also like it unfairly that supermarkets are benefiting from the corona crisis and they are not. Several security regions have labeled the situation surrounding the protests as too dangerous, and a ban was imposed in the said provinces.

Agriculture Minister Carola Schouten canceled her working visit to the province of Zeeland early today. That reports Omroep Zeeland. Farmers who had heard of the working visit blocked the road with tractors on site. They wanted to discuss the current nitrogen policy and the concentrates measure with the minister. The atmosphere remained pleasant, but on the advice of the police, the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality shortened the working visit.

Call to go to Assen
Meanwhile, emotions in the sector continue to rise. The intervention of the police this morning in Drenthe in particular is causing a lot of stir among farmers. Via social media they expressed their dissatisfaction with the arrests, which they believe were unjustified, because it was a legitimate action. Farmers were called upon to pull the tractor en masse to the police station in Assen in the afternoon to support the arrested farmers, women and children. It also got busier in the afternoon.

Update 17.03 hours: the Drenthe police report on Twitter that the last detainee of Wijster has just left the police station in Assen. They will all be fined €390 in any case, the police report.

Jeanette Pennings

Jeannet has her roots in the flower bulb sector and she grew up on an agricultural company in the northern part of North Holland. As a generalist she reports for Boerenbusiness across all sectors. She is also exploring the possibilities of sponsored advertising.

j.pennings@boerenbusiness. Nl

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