Most Dutch understand farmers’ desire to protests government nitrogen plans

A majority of Dutch adults, 68 percent, say they can understand farmers’ protests against the government’s nitrogen reduction plans. However, support falls sharply for actions that cause significant disruption, according to the Hart van Nederland Panel poll of 3,268 respondents.

Farmers’ organizations, including Farmers' Defense Force and Agractie, along with local groups, are preparing new actions. The groups say the Cabinet’s nitrogen plans will have too large a consequence for agricultural businesses and fear many farmers will face further hardship. Specific actions planned in the coming period have not been announced.

General understanding of the protests has barely shifted. When the same panel asked the identical question in 2024, 66 percent expressed understanding. The 2-point rise is small and not statistically significant.

Peaceful demonstrations draw the strongest backing. Exactly 93 percent of respondents find a demonstration at a designated location, such as the Malieveld in The Hague, acceptable. Local protests at a town hall or provincial government building are acceptable to 84 percent. A convoy of tractors and trucks to The Hague is, for example, less acceptable (69 percent). Half of those surveyed also say temporary refusal to deliver products or milk is an okay tactic.

Support erodes with greater disruption. Blocking highways or provincial roads draws the least support, with only 25 percent finding it acceptable. A temporary blockade of a distribution center is acceptable to 32 percent.

Occupying or blocking access to government buildings is acceptable to 49 percent. Slow driving by tractors on highways is acceptable to 41 percent.

The Hart van Nederland Panel is designed to be as representative as possible of the adult Dutch population by gender, age, region, education, and political preference, following the Golden Standard of Data & Insights Network and Statistics Netherlands (CBS). The questionnaire was drafted neutrally by the editorial staff.