Nijmegen Mayor condemns Extinction Rebellion’s butyric acid stunt as ‘disgraceful’

Mayor Hubert Bruls of Nijmegen on Saturday condemned a protest action by climate group Extinction Rebellion (XR), calling it “disgraceful” after activists poured stinky butyric acid on themselves inside a Zara clothing store in the city.

The action was part of a broader XR campaign targeting fast fashion retailers in 29 Dutch municipalities. While the group later claimed the protest was an April Fools’ prank, it admitted that one real incident involving the use of the foul-smelling chemical would take place. That act occurred in Nijmegen.

“We had already labeled XR earlier this week as an unpredictable and unreliable organization,” Mayor Bruls said in an official statement following the protest. “Their claim that it was an April Fools’ joke was not taken seriously. We were prepared, and police and enforcement personnel remained alert to XR’s announced action. For that, I express my appreciation and respect.”

Bruls had proactively issued a ban earlier in the week specifically prohibiting the distribution of butyric acid within the city. Despite that, XR activists carried out the act in a busy retail location. Police arrested three individuals connected to the incident.

The mayor emphasized that the city had anticipated the group might follow through with its plans despite the ban. The demonstration caused disruption inside the Zara store, though no medical attention was required on site.

By contrast, a similar XR protest in January at an H&M store in Naaldwijk resulted in several people feeling unwell due to the odor. Those affected were treated by ambulance personnel. In Nijmegen, Saturday’s incident did not require emergency medical services.

The controversy extended beyond Nijmegen. Zoetermeer Mayor Michel Bezuijen also voiced his frustration with XR, after the group falsely announced a protest in his city that turned out to be part of the prank. “It’s a waste of valuable time and resources,” he said. “Municipal authorities and police still had to prepare. Trust in these types of notifications is undermined when it turns out to be a bad joke.”