200 participate in anti-immigration march in The Hague; Some dressed as Zwarte Piet

Around 200 people gathered Saturday afternoon at the Koekamp in The Hague for an anti-immigration protest, beginning a march through the city center. Organizers Nederland in Opstand (NIO) called it the ‘March for a Safe Netherlands.’

Demonstrators carried Dutch flags and Prinsenvlaggen, an orange-white-blue flag historically associated with the NSB, the Dutch National Socialist Movement that collaborated with Nazi Germany during World War II. Some participants were dressed as Zwarte Piet, a controversial figure in Dutch tradition that has become a symbol of racial debate and, in far-right circles, a political statement.

Before the march, an organizer at the Koekamp urged the government to "listen to the people" or "we will show it in another way." He referenced a September 20 demonstration in The Hague against asylum policy that turned violent, during which a police car was set on fire and other incidents occurred.

A heavy police presence accompanied the march. The city center of The Hague has been designated a security risk area, which allows officers to conduct preventive searches. An ANP reporter observed that police detained several individuals before and during the march.

The march proceeded through the city center, surrounded by police vehicles. As a precaution, officers also blocked side streets along the route, a spokesperson confirmed.