Background Farmers protest
'As one front against the nitrogen policy in The Hague'
Today, Stroe was the setting for the agricultural demonstration against the government's plans for nitrogen policy. In the usually pleasant town of Gelderland, farmers and tractors came and went. The periphery was also present, as were many concerned citizens and a few professional demonstrators. With the joint mission to sweep the presented nitrogen plans off the table. The connection was great. As are the worries.
The demonstration was somewhat like a festival, but on a weekday. The sun shone brightly. Just like the music blasted from the microphones prior to the program that started a little later than planned due to delays by some farmers along the way. There was a relaxed atmosphere, but the reason for this gathering is admittedly a dire necessity. "We have to do something to make our voice heard to the Netherlands," said a cattle farmer from Brabant on the site. At just after six this morning, he left in a tractor column for the center of the country. Farmers showed up from the bottom of Limburg to Northeast Groningen. You could walk over the heads. Estimates go up to at least 40.000 people, many of whom are young people.
Anyone who thought that only livestock farmers and feed companies had gathered in Stroe, is wrong. Urker fishermen were also present, as were gardeners from the Westland. As far as that is concerned, there is great solidarity across the agricultural sector. That was underlined again today.
"Strong together"
The speakers on stage came from all ranks of the agricultural sector. From the always civilized LTO to the loud noise of Farmers Defense Force. The aim is to keep the ranks to The Hague closed. Talks are only allowed again with the ministries of Van der Wal and Staghouwer after the nitrogen plans have been put off the table. LTO leader Sjaak van der Tak also conformed to this, at the explicit request of Jeroen van Maanen, who discussed the program together with Jos Goebbels. "Only together are we strong", is the motto.
Bart Kemp of Agractie used spicy, but sincere, words and spoke about a war between the policymakers in The Hague and the peasant republic. It is the government's job to seize agricultural land, he assured. It earned him a round of applause from the audience. Despite the heat and brightly shining sun, they listened attentively. Also to the substantive presentation by investigative journalist Geesje Rotgers, who had foreseen the current problems for years. "On a legal level, the nitrogen policy is beeping and cracking on all sides," she said. It is important that the agricultural sector tries to arm itself and try to refute the nitrogen policy with scientific substantiation. This is also the commitment of the Nitrogen Claim Foundation, which was represented on stage by chairman John Spithoven.
Applause for Van der Plas
Not everyone had come to Stroe from politics in The Hague. VVD MP Thom van Campen stayed at home for security reasons, as did Tjeerd de Groot of D66. Other MPs were flanked on the podium. Also coalition party CDA, represented on behalf of MP Derk Boswijk. SGP member Roelof Bisschop, who had conveniently left the tie at home, wondered whether the illustrators of the now famous nitrogen map had ever been to the countryside. Caroline van der Plas of BoerBurgerBeweging called the plan 'total madness'. It resulted in thunderous applause and a lot of cheering from the audience. Joost Eerdmans of JA21 spoke of a millstone around the neck of the rural economy. He is pushing for a repair law. Wybren van Haga denied on stage that there is a nitrogen problem, just like the PVV.
In between, René Verhulst, mayor of Ede, took the floor. He promised to offer prospects for all farmers in his part of the Gelderse Vallei. Almost at the end, FDF frontman Mark van der Oever took the podium. He spoke in strong terms about the burden imposed on the sector in The Hague. He further underlined that demonstrating is a right in the Netherlands, which should not be tampered with.
No foot over threshold at ministries
The Achterhoek band 'Mooi Wark' closed the day in a festive manner. Is this the last farmer's protest for the time being? Judging by the high turnout, it appears that farmers are prepared to go the extra mile to take the sting out of the nitrogen policy. Whether politics in The Hague will start moving? Advocates in the agricultural sector have promised not to set foot on the threshold at the ministries until the plan is off the table. The government is looking at the provinces, but they seem to have little motivation to implement the nitrogen policy.
Perhaps the greatest gain is in this one, as one farmer said in the field. After all, in new elections, the political cards may be shuffled quite differently. Time will tell. Traffic nuisance could not be prevented, although the situation was less dire today than during the Malieveld protest in The Hague a few years ago. It remained civilized in Stroe, which suddenly enjoys national fame. Tomorrow it will be quiet again and attention will shift to The Hague, where a - probably heated - nitrogen debate is taking place.
Wouter Job
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