Dutch kids take to Hague streets to demand action against climate change

Throngs of schoolchildren and adults are expected to walk out of their classrooms, jobs and daily routines to instead take to the streets of The Hague to demand that the Dutch government and other world leaders take more action against global warming. They join a global movement of young people demanding that their world be protected against the climate crisis. 

While this movement is organized mainly by young Dutch people, supporters of many ages and nationalities are expected to join the march. On Facebook, over 7 thousand people indicated that they will be marching in The Hague today, and over 13 thousand said they were interested. More than 52 environmental and other charity organizations also support the Climate Strike, according to the organization Klimaatstaking. 

The March will start at 1:00 p.m. on Koekamp, five minutes' walk from Den Haag Centraal. There speeches will be held. At around 1:45 p.m., the climate strikers will march around the Binnenhof. They will return to the Koekamp at around 2:45 p.m. for more speeches, and vegan soup from Rampenplan. 

"It is time for politicians, locally in The Hague, in Europe and worldwide, to wake up and work on a better policy to stop the climate crisis", action group Fridays For Future Nederland said on the Klimaatstaking site. "By striking for the climate, we want to create a clear turning point in history. We strike to show that we can no longer ignore it."

"Our joint home is on fire. Yet our political 'leaders' do far too little to tackle the climate crisis", Fossielvrij NL said. "Children and young people have taken the lead and are now requesting our help. If we take action together, we can end the fossil age. With millions of people, in more than 150 countries, we strike for a livable and just world for everyone."