Climate activists block traffic in front of Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam

Police have announced to take traffic delays and nuisance into account for commuters who need to pass through the Stadhouderskade at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam as environmental activists have blocked that busy traffic junction, reports NOS. 

“Our government has been aware of this problem for 30 years and they are continuing to do nothing, so at some point, the time for friendly questions and petitions is over,” says one of the activists from Extinction Rebellion to NOS, the organisation that is behind organising this act of civil disobedience.

Enkele honderden klimaatactivisten hebben ondanks het verbid van de gemeente de Stadhouderskade geblokkeerd bij het Rijksmuseum. Zeker 50 tentjes staan op straat. De ME doet vooralsnog niets, op enkele aanhoudingen na. #ExtinctionRebellion #klimaat #Amsterdam pic.twitter.com/Mmgx6a3Gvm

— Judith Katstra (@volgjudith) October 7, 2019

The municipality had initially banned this blockade from happening, but the activists want to use ‘civil disobedience’ to bring attention and put pressure on the government. “We use civil disobedience to force the government to do something about the climate,” says a spokesperson for Extinction Rebellion.

There have been some arrests but they don’t seem to be going anywhere – the demonstrators have pitched tents and everything! The police have asked them to move to Museumplein but they have not responded. They want to continue this protest for the whole week and is part of an international campaign. Similar protests are happening in Berlin, Paris, Sydney and London.

Klimaatactivisten omsingeld door ME. Politie roept ze op weg te gaan, anders worden ze gearresteerd. Betogers geven hier vooralsnog geen gehoor aan. #ExtinctionRebellion pic.twitter.com/v8hEd741KK

— Judith Katstra (@volgjudith) October 7, 2019

There won’t be any more activists joining them though – the police have blocked off the area around the Rijksmuseum. So take note commuters – you can’t go through Stadhouderskade, but Museumplein is free of traffic nuisance.

Klimaatactivisten blijven staan. Het is wachten tot de ME in actie komt. #ExtinctionRebellion pic.twitter.com/fdybzf13qS

— Judith Katstra (@volgjudith) October 7, 2019

Do you have to go through these areas for your commute? Or are you at the protest? We want to see how it looks, so send us some pictures in the comments below!

Feature Image: merlijn_olnon/Instagram