Tens of thousands take part in Amsterdam climate march
Tens of thousands of people gathered on Amsterdam's Dam square on Sunday to protest for a more active policy. Carrying signs saying things like 'What will my world look like when I'm as big as you?', 'Save the earth', and 'Do something', the demonstrators marched through the cold and rain from Dam Square to the Museumplein, NU.nl reports.
The Climate March was organized by environmental organizations Greenpeace, Milieudefensie and Oxfam Novib, among others. According to Greenpeace, over 40 thousand people participated in the march. "We knew that a lot of people had signed up, but that so many actually came despite the bad weather is incredible", a Greenpeace spokesperson said to the newspaper.
The march started at 1:00 p.m. with performances by Claudia de Breij and Typhoon. Climate Scientist Heleen de Coninck gave a speech, and the initiators of the so-called 'climate truants' - pupils and students skipping school and classes to protest for more climate measures - were also given a chance to speak. Due to the massive interest, the organizers decided to start the march even before the podium program ended. Demonstrators marched to the Museumplein while the podium program continued. According to a Greenpeace spokesperson, the protest happened without any major incidents.
This was the largest climate protest ever in the Netherlands, the Greenpeace spokesperson said to NU.nl. The 'climate truants' protest in February had over 10 thousand participants, and a climate march in 2018 drew eight thousand protesters. "It says two things", the spokesperson said. "People are seriously worried, otherwise you will not stand in the cold and rain on your free Sunday. And people really want something to happen now. More than ever, the climate must be on top of the political agenda."
Advice. #Klimaatmars pic.twitter.com/uStZEr3VvB
— IJsbrand van Veelen (@ijsvv) March 10, 2019
'Hey, Shell, leave those kids alone!' singing at #Klimaatmars pic.twitter.com/5fQZXoYK3u
— Kate Honey (@KateRHoney) March 10, 2019
Inauguration of Donald Trump? No, climate march in Amsterdam! 🇳🇱 #klimaatmars pic.twitter.com/mdBptdggAS
— Henri Bontenbal (@HenriBontenbal) March 10, 2019
Dutch citizens gatber for largest climate protest ever in The Netherlands. At Dam square, it's massive. To demand fair and honest climate policy. #klimaatmars #climatejustice pic.twitter.com/QSBEpvrDI4
— Klimaatmars (@klimaatmars) March 10, 2019
in spite of the rain many people in A'dam who are mopping up with the Climatemarch#klimaatmars pic.twitter.com/rOCqTCkyLa
— T_Schyff_m (@t_schyff60) March 10, 2019
https://twitter.com/ladiefen/status/1104714727702319106
Nagenieten van de succesvolle klimaatmars. Dat kan hier. All eyes on the Amazon. #Klimaatmars pic.twitter.com/cBqKoAq0ip
— Greenpeace Nederland (@GreenpeaceNL) March 10, 2019
Nagenieten van de succesvolle klimaatmars. Dat kan hier. #stopluchtvaartgroei #Klimaatmars pic.twitter.com/gRKJ0bvDqa
— Greenpeace Nederland (@GreenpeaceNL) March 10, 2019
Wow, rillingen hiero bij iedereen! Dit is 10 maart 2019 Amsterdam. Klimaatmars dat brengt Nederlanders WEL de straat op! pic.twitter.com/zjaLhyVJaC
— Klimaatmars (@klimaatmars) March 10, 2019
De laatste lopers hebben het Museumplein bereikt. De #klimaatmars voor een goed en eerlijk klimaatbeleid is afgelopen. Bedankt allemaal 🥳 40.000 lopers hebben een krachtig signaal afgegeven ✊ De politiek is aan zet. Stem 20 maart met de verkiezingen voor het klimaat! pic.twitter.com/BIqBlPZekl
— Milieudefensie (@milieudefensie) March 10, 2019
Dutch citizens gatber for largest climate protest ever in The Netherlands. At Dam square, it's massive. To demand fair and honest climate policy. #klimaatmars #climatejustice pic.twitter.com/QSBEpvrDI4
— Klimaatmars (@klimaatmars) March 10, 2019