Nitrogen policy in the Netherlands at a tipping point: farmers promise ‘tough actions’

Last week the nitrogen bomb exploded in the Netherlands. The government in The Hague has a plan ready with far-reaching nitrogen measures that mainly affect the biggest polluters, the farmers. The livestock will have to shrink by a third. Just like in Flanders, the sector is defending itself, but the tone is possibly even more threatening. “Men, make sure you’ve refueled and cleaned your tractor, because we’re going to blow it”, it sounds in an appeal from the infamous ‘protest farmer’ Mark van den Oever.

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