Full Breakdown
Violent Far-Right Demonstration Dispersed by Dutch Riot Police in The Hague
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Core Event
On September 19, 2026, Dutch riot police intervened in a far-right rally organized by the group “Wij Zijn Het Volk” (“We Are the People”) at the Malieveld park in The Hague. Protesters threw fireworks, smoke bombs, sticks and other projectiles at officers, performed Nazi-style salutes, and chanted antisemitic slogans. After the violence escalated, the municipality banned the planned march through the city and ordered the crowd to disperse. Police used baton charges, specialist dogs, pepper spray, a water cannon and, according to some reports, baton-charged the demonstrators. The disturbance was quelled by the early evening, and a number of participants were arrested.
Background and Recent History
The protest occurred exactly one year after a similar anti-immigration rally in The Hague descended into a full-scale riot. In that earlier incident, roughly 1,000 rioters set fire to police cars, blocked the A12 motorway and attacked the headquarters of the centrist D66 party, whose leader Rob Jetten later became prime minister. The recurrence of violence prompted authorities to adopt a stricter stance this year, including an emergency ordinance that allowed police to remove individuals contributing to public disorder.
Scale of the Protest and Police Response
- Estimated crowd size: reports describe the gathering as “several hundred” participants, with one outlet specifying “around 500” demonstrators.
- Arrests: the Dutch public broadcaster NOS and several other sources reported 24 people detained for offenses such as failing to comply with the ban and illegal possession of weapons. One outlet noted an “unknown number” of arrests, creating a minor discrepancy.
- Police tactics: officers deployed baton charges, specialist dogs, pepper spray, and a water cannon. Fireworks and other projectiles were thrown at the riot squad, and at least one traffic pole was hurled toward police.
Official Statements & Responses
Justice Minister David van Weel condemned the scenes, describing the images as “identical” to earlier extremist displays and calling for “hard-line action” against the perpetrators. He thanked police for upholding the democratic rule of law. Acting mayor Richard de Mos explained that the march was cancelled and only a demonstration at Malieveld was permitted; when violence continued, the decision to end the gathering was deemed necessary.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Crowd size: descriptions range from “several hundred” to “around 500,” indicating no precise headcount.
- Arrest numbers: most outlets cite 24 arrests, while one source mentions an “unknown number,” leaving the exact figure unclear.
- Police equipment: some reports list pepper spray and water cannon, whereas others emphasize baton charges and dogs; the full suite of tactics used is not uniformly detailed.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Hitler salutes, anti-Semitic chants, violence against police and fireworks thrown at riot squad officers,” — Van Weel, justice minister
- “That is why we cancelled the march and only allowed a demonstration on the Malieveld,” — De Mos, acting mayor
The incident underscores heightened tensions around Dutch immigration policy and the government’s resolve to confront extremist demonstrations that threaten public order.