PVV member strikes climate activist with car, drives off without stopping

A member of the Party for Freedom (PVV), Ronald van Tiggelen, struck a climate activist with his car last week near the provincial government building in Haarlem and drove away without stopping. The activist had been participating in a blockade organized by the climate groups Kappen met Kolen and Extinction Rebellion.

The incident occurred when Van Tiggelen drove through a banner set up by the protesters, sending the woman onto the hood of his vehicle. She was later hospitalized with a mild concussion and injuries to her back and knee.

The activist, who filed a formal complaint with the help of an Extinction Rebellion lawyer, spoke out during a protest on Monday outside the provincial house, where activists called for the cancellation of permits for Tata Steel’s coke gas plants.

In response to the incident, Van Tiggelen explained that he was unaware of the injury and admitted that he did not stop the car after hitting the activist. "I didn't want this to happen again," he said, expressing frustration over the media attention these protests draw. "You want to avoid anyone getting caught under the wheels," he added.

To prevent further confrontations, Van Tiggelen announced that his faction would change its weekly meeting times. He claimed that climate activists have frequently harassed him, even at his home in Zandvoort.