Skip to main content
Home

Main navigation

  • Top stories
  • Health
  • Crime
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Weird
  • 1-1-2
Image
Kajsa Ollongren
Kajsa Ollongren - Credit: Photo: Rijksoverheid / Wikimedia Commons
Politics
Ingrid van Engelshoven
Kajsa Ollongren
Ministry of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations
Raymond Knops
Denk
Tunahan Kuzu
Parliamentary questions
demonstration
protest
right to demonstrate
Dokkum
Dongeradeel
Zwarte Piet
Kick Out Zwarte Piet
Wednesday, 22 November 2017 - 15:20
Share this:
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
  • reddit

Home Affairs Minister to discuss right to demonstration with mayors

Minister Kasja Ollongren of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations will arrange a meeting with mayors and local governments to discuss citizens' right to demonstrate and the considerations that should be taken into account when a demonstration is canceled, she said in response to parliamentary questions from DENK MP Tunahan Kuzu, AD reports

Kuzu wanted to know exactly why an anti-racism demonstration by Kick Out Zwarte Piet was canceled at Sinterklaas' national arrival in Dokkum on Saturday. "A permit was issued, but it was withdrawn at the last minute. This happens more often lately", he said. He asked the Minister whether the decision to cancel a demonstration should not be tested independently.

Ollongren emphasized that she absolutely believes in the importance of the right to demonstrate. "The Amsterdam mayor [Eberhard] Van der Laan always said: The right to demonstrate is almost sacred. I agree with that", Ollongren, herself formerly deputy mayor of Amsterdam, said. At the same time, a local government must make an assessment on whether a demonstration can safely take place, taking into account the risk of problems.

According to Ollongren, the mayor of Dongeradeel, which covers Dokkum, made this assessment and decided that the risk of disorder at the protest was too great. The Minister said that she doesn't get the impression that the 'chance of disorder' is too casually used to prevent demonstrations. "But I am prepared to meet with local authorities to see how these situations are handled."

Kuzu also asked about statements made by State Secretary Raymond Knops of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations on program WNL on Sunday. He said that, as far as he's concerned, Zwarte Piet should stay black. That contradicts statements by Minister Ingrid van Engelshoven of Education, Culture and Science, who said that traditions should change with the time.

Ollongren answered that the Dutch government speaks with one mouth, but Knops' statements show that the Netherlands "is big in diversity". "There are a lot of emotions around this subject, both from supporters and opponents. I hope that there is also room for understanding from both sides."

On Saturday Zwarte Piet supporters blocked the A7 highway to prevent Kick Out Zwarte Piet reaching Dokkum for their arranged demonstration against racism at Sinterklaas' arrival. When the protesters finally arrived in the Friesland town, their demonstration could not go through. Earlier this week, the mayor said that demonstrations during the Sinterklaas arrival were canceled based on information that protesters brought dangerous fireworks with them. 

On Tuesday afternoon the Public Prosecutor announced that a criminal investigation was launched into the highway blockade, which is a punishable offense. The blockade caused many traffic problems, as well as several accidents, according to Dutch public works department Rijkswaterstaat.

Follow us:

Latest stories

  • Women on Waves receives applications from the US for abortion ship
  • Air France-KLM pays millions for alleged mail fraud in the US
  • Maastricht University recovers ransom from hackers with large profit
  • Government must pay tens of thousands of euros to waiting Tbs patients
  • Location of new nuclear power plants to be announced in autumn
  • Hundreds gather in Dam Square to protest for abortion rights

Top stories

  • Dutch Central Bank and province of Noord-Holland apologize for historic roles in slavery
  • Schiphol and Eindhoven Airport prepare for farmer protests, traffic blockades
  • Fmr. Dutch national football coach accuses colleagues of rape
  • Five young children seriously injured in head-on crash
  • Many new rules in effect from July 1 in the Netherlands
  • Cabinet wants to ban protests in front of politicians’ homes after farmers incidents

© 2012-2022, NL Times, All rights reserved.

Footer menu

  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Partner content