During the climate march, Sunday afternoon in Rotterdam, several demonstrators lash out at farmers with their banners and signs. With texts such as “Farmers, there is nothing great about nitrogen”, “Climate Defense Force” and “Fewer mega stables, more biodiversity”, the climate protesters let it be known that they are diametrically opposed to the farmers’ protest.
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“Had I gone with the tractor, I would now have been spoken to,” reads a large banner of an activist, referring to the farmers’ protests against the cabinet’s nitrogen plans of recent times. Farmers’ action clubs are organizing a nationwide protest day next Wednesday.
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The farmers are displeased with the nitrogen plan that Minister Christianne van der Wal (Nature and Nitrogen) recently announced. Emissions must be significantly reduced so that nature can recover, which has major consequences for farmers. According to the government’s objectives, nitrogen emissions in the Gelderse Vallei, Noord-Brabant and Limburg must be reduced by more than half. The farmers are so angry about this that they went to Minister Van der Wal’s house with several tractors.
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“Airplane = 30 euros. Train = 300 euros. How?!”
It is a coincidence that the climate march is being held just a few days before the farmers’ protest. The actions are in a sense opposite of each other: while the farmers believe that the government is going too far with “unrealistic” plans to protect nature, the environmentalists say that the government lacks the urgency to combat climate change. For example, they denounce the fact that coal-fired power stations are still open in the Netherlands. About 10,000 people are taking part in the climate march.
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The protesters are also turning against aviation. Slogans such as “Boycott Schiphol”, “Shrinkage aviation” and “Less flies, more trains” are often seen on cardboard signs. “Airplane = 30 euros. Train = 300 euros. How?!” is on the plate of 21-year-old Fenna from Rotterdam. “Going on holiday by train is made unaffordable for students like me. That really has to change.” Suzanne, 58, agrees.
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Schiphol announced on Thursday evening that it will process fewer passengers this summer due to ongoing staff shortages, which means that airlines are expected to not only sell fewer tickets, but also cancel flights. Shortly before that, sources from The Hague reported that the cabinet wants the number of permitted flights at Schiphol to be structurally reduced, partly because of the enormous crowds at the airport and noise pollution. The current ceiling of 500,000 flights would be lowered by 50,000 to 60,000 flights. Environmental clubs called that suspected plan “a breakthrough”.
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