Extinction Rebellion blocks A7 on Afsluitdijk, one arrested for assaulting an officer

The Afsluitdijk reopened Saturday afternoon after climate activists from Extinction Rebellion (XR) blocked the highway, authorities said. One demonstrator was arrested for assaulting a police officer, while the remaining protesters left voluntarily.

A spokesperson for Rijkswaterstaat (RWS) confirmed the road is clear. “At the peak, delays were only about four minutes,” the RWS representative said, noting that traffic could still pass via a nearby gas station.

A police spokesperson said the other activists boarded buses voluntarily and were being transported to Sneek station.

XR said 65 activists participated in the A7 demonstration. After blocking the road, the group posted on X: “We stand for life and demand that the government immediately halt new fossil fuel projects.” During the protest, demonstrators also shouted slogans, including "Stop drilling in the Wadden Sea."