Climate activists block Afsluitdijk in protest against North Sea gas drilling
Climate activists from Extinction Rebellion and Scientist Rebellion blocked the Afsluitdijk (A7) near Den Oever on Saturday, stopping all traffic between Noord-Holland and Friesland, NH reported. Drivers were forced to detour via the Enkhuizen–Lelystad causeway, causing short traffic jams on the route between Sneek and Lelystad, according to an ANWB spokesperson.
About 150 protesters stood on the highway holding banners. Earlier in the afternoon, a group of roughly 15 youths threw eggs at the demonstrators, a photographer from ANP reported.
The activists protested new natural gas drilling projects in the North Sea. They called on Energy Management Netherlands (EBN), research organization TNO, and the Mijnraad to issue negative recommendations on all current and upcoming permit applications, which they say threaten the Wadden Sea and the planet’s livability.
Rijkswaterstaat said it remains unclear how long the highway closure will last.
