Right-wing demonstrations in The Hague, the administrative capital of the Netherlands, descended into violence and chaos today, just weeks before the general elections, as rioters clashed with police and vandalized a political party office.
Police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse demonstrators who were throwing objects at officers and set a police car on fire. Information on injuries or arrests has not yet been released.
Dutch media reported that rioters attacked the office of the centrist political party D66. Party leader Rob Jetten stated on platform X:
“Scum, stay away from political parties! If you think you can intimidate us, you are mistaken. We will never let extremist rioters take away our beautiful country.”
A smaller group of demonstrators moved toward the Parliament complex, which has been fenced off due to ongoing renovations.
The unrest involved only a few hundred people, many dressed in black, demanding a tougher asylum policy.
The general elections are scheduled for October 29, following the withdrawal of anti-Islam MP Geert Wilders’ party from the ruling coalition over a dispute on immigration control measures.
In a statement today, Wilders condemned the rioters for blocking highways and attacking police, calling them “idiots” and “scum.”
