Photos: Thousands of school kids protest for climate measures in The Hague
Thousands of kids and teenagers in the Netherlands skipped school on Thursday to protest in The Hague for more action to be taken against climate change. They carried banners and signs with slogans like "If the climate were a bank, it would already have been saved". The protest happened peacefully and without incident, NU.nl reports.
The pupils marched from the Malieveld, through the Mauritskade and back to the field. The police estimate that between four and five thousand young people participated. According to organizer Youth For Climate, around 8 thousand pupils took part in the demonstration.
There was also a large police presence at the demonstration, but the police officers did not have much to do.
On Thursday morning 350 Dutch scientists and academics published an open letter in Trouw in which they expressed support for the pupils' action. "On the basis of the facts provided by climate science, the activists are absolutely right." They added that it is "high time" for political leadership, effective measures and behavioral change. "Otherwise the group of young people who are protesting for their own future this week, will be the victims.
‘If the climate were a bank, it would already have been saved.’
— Tako Rietveld (@TakoRietveld) February 7, 2019
Nu al 5000 kinderen en jongeren op het Malieveld in Den Haag. (Bron: @POL_DenHaag) 🌍💪🏼🌎 pic.twitter.com/bAQ9Rw9mL4
Malieveld loopt vol! #klimaatspijbelen pic.twitter.com/VE6TDGGc38
— Olivier van Paasschen (@vpaasschen) February 7, 2019
Kids on the way for climate strike/march. School supports them : go youth! #Malieveld #stgs #proudmom #ClimateStrike pic.twitter.com/SoHaI3Yfly
— Susanne Mosmans (@suus2me) February 7, 2019
Ik zit met kantoor al 7 jaar aan het #Malieveld en niet eerder zo’n drukke demonstratie gezien. #klimaatspijbelen pic.twitter.com/7rVPJbB9Sc
— diana kleinjans (@dianakleinjans) February 7, 2019
Ik was even op het #Malieveld vanochtend en kwam daar mijn eigen leerlingen tegen. pic.twitter.com/P0NFfzpGY5
— Marjonne Maan (@MarjonneMaan) February 7, 2019
Creatief met karton. Bordjeparadeop het Malieveld #Klimaatmars #YouthForClimate pic.twitter.com/9czpAOYG4P
— Annemieke van Dongen (@AnnemiekevD) February 7, 2019
https://twitter.com/vanderzande/status/1093434248290361345
Malieveld pic.twitter.com/xqHOQ5MpSV
— Magda Smink (@magdasmink) February 7, 2019
#GretaThunberg #Skolstrejk_for_klimatet #klimaatstaking @NOS @GretaThunberg #Malieveld #TheHague slowly but surely filling up - already more people than at inauguration #Trump 😜😎 pic.twitter.com/MUYppKEAym
— Eric JF Kleijssen 🇺🇦 (@EricJFKleijssen) February 7, 2019