Right-wing extremist demonstration in The Hague: They think they are “the people”.

afp/dpa The police in The Hague broke up a banned demonstration by right-wing extremists, some of them violent, on Saturday afternoon. The police used batons and attacked the right-wing demonstrators with dogs and water cannons.

The security forces were attacked with fireworks and street signs. 24 people were therefore arrested. The city administration had put an emergency ordinance into effect and banned the demonstration.

The approximately 500 participants chanted slogans against migrants and the government's immigration policy and called for violence against Jews, as the ANP news agency reported.

Justice Minister David van Weel condemned the attacks on police officers and the right-wing extremist slogans. “It is important that tough measures are taken here,” said the politician from the conservative-liberal VVD party. He saw “disgusting images” in The Hague and referred to “Hitler salutes, anti-Semitic slogans, violence against the police and the throwing of fireworks at the police.”

Previously, an organization that operates under the motto “Wij Zijn Het Volk” (We are the people) called for a rally against immigration to the Netherlands and the government’s migration policy.

Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten accused the demonstrators on the online service X of deliberately seeking confrontation with the police and shouting “vile” right-wing extremist and anti-Semitic slogans.

The demonstration under the motto “We are the people” was registered as a protest against Dutch government policy, especially on immigration issues. A march through the city was originally planned. However, after the clashes began at the meeting place, it was banned and the demonstration was ordered to be dispersed.