Widespread disgust after violent and racist riots in The Hague

Riot police broke up a far-right demonstration at The Hague’s Malieveld on Saturday after it turned violent, using a water cannon and pepper spray to clear the crowd.

They arrested 24 people and declared an emergency order for part of the city, all a year on from near-identical scenes at the same spot.

The protest was organised by a far-right group calling itself Wij Zijn Het Volk (We Are The People). A few hundred people turned up, many dressed in black, and things didn’t stay calm for long.

What happened on the Malieveld?

The city first banned a planned march through the centre, pointing to violence against police, general disorder, and demonstrators who refused to remove face coverings.

A linked rally was allowed to go ahead on the Malieveld, The Hague’s usual protest ground and one more used to hosting enormous but peaceful crowds. This time, though, the mood stayed tense.

When demonstrators kept hurling fireworks, sticks, and smoke bombs at police, the Mobiele Eenheid (riot police) moved in, NOS reports.

They turned a water cannon on the crowd and pushed it towards Den Haag Centraal station, cutting off routes into the centre. A noodbevel (emergency order) was declared, letting police remove anyone adding to the chaos.

Some protesters carried banners with racist slogans, alongside White Pride flags and Prinsenvlaggen, an old orange-white-blue Dutch flag now flown as a far-right symbol. Hitler salutes and antisemitic chants were also heard.

Journalists threatened and shoved into the water

Three journalists have since reported being threatened, filing complaints with PersVeilig, a Dutch organisation for press safety. Two say demonstrators intimidated them physically and verbally: one was shoved off a bench, the other deliberately tripped.

The third was a Spanish photographer who ended up in the water after a shove from an officer, camera and all, despite wearing his press pass. He says no one checked on him and that other photographers pulled him out, and he plans to file a complaint.

Police called it an unfortunate incident and say they’ve contacted both him and the Dutch journalists’ union.

24 arrests, then a swift release

Those detained were held on suspicion of carrying illegal weapons, such as knives or brass knuckles, and ignoring the emergency order, with reporters at the scene noting that minors were among them.

By Sunday, all 24 had been released, most of them the same day, though police say they’ll still have to answer for their actions later.

Footage is “disgusting”

Justice Minister Van Weel called the footage “disgusting” and pushed for a firm crackdown, while Prime Minister Rob Jetten condemned the “excessive violence” against police and the antisemitism on display.

The Hague’s deputy mayor praised officers for stopping the trouble from spilling into the centre.

The timing was hard to miss. It came a year after the far-right “Els Rechts” riots on the very same field, when police cars were set alight and the office of party D66 was damaged. That day eventually led to 51 convictions.

Have Dutch protests felt more tense to you lately? Share your take in the comments below