36 arrested during anti-immigration march in The Hague
An anti-immigration demonstration in The Hague resulted in 36 people arrested Saturday, authorities said. Authorities linked the arrests to various offenses, such as the prohibited wearing of face-covering clothing and the possession of weapons like knives and heavy fireworks.
The demonstration, organized by the group Nederland in Opstand (NIO), was billed as a “March for a Safe Netherlands” and drew about 200 participants through the city center.
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 traditional figure that has become a symbol of racial debate and a political statement.
Officers closely monitored the march, with side streets along the route cordoned off as a precaution. The city center had been designated a high-security area where police were authorized to search all individuals. The security designation was initially scheduled to last until 10 p.m., but police lifted it shortly after 5 p.m.
Authorities have been keeping a close watch on such demonstrations following violent incidents earlier this year. On September 20, a far-right protest on the Malieveld ended in riots and property damage, and a separate anti-immigration protest in Amsterdam on October 12, although initially peaceful, also escalated into confrontations with police.
