Violence Erupts at Dutch Far-Right Anti-Immigration Rally

Dutch riot police clashed with approximately 500 far-right protesters in central The Hague during an anti-immigration demonstration called “We Are The People.” The confrontation began after protesters reportedly threw fireworks and other projectiles at officers, shouted antisemitic slogans, and performed Nazi salutes. Police responded with baton charges, specialist dogs, water cannons, and mounted units to disperse the crowd, with several arrests made. The protesters had gathered at Malieveld, a central park, and intended to march through the city. However, local authorities had prohibited the procession and ordered demonstrators to leave after violence broke out. Protesters said they were demonstrating against government policies on immigration and asylum. One participant, 31-year-old mechanic Thijs Jansen, said the Netherlands was “losing” its identity because of mass migration. Justice Minister David van Weel condemned the disorder as “disgusting scenes” and called for an extremely firm response to violence against police and the use of hate speech. He also praised officers for defending the country’s democratic rule of law. The unrest follows similar violence during a right-wing demonstration in The Hague a year earlier. During that incident, rioters set a police car on fire and attacked the headquarters of the centrist D66 party, which is currently led by Prime Minister Rob Jetten. The latest clashes highlight continuing tensions in the Netherlands over immigration, asylum policy, far-right activism, public order, and political extremism.

A far-right anti-immigration rally in The Hague, Netherlands, turned violent on Saturday, 19 September 2026, when demonstrators clashed with Dutch police. Approximately 500 people attended the “We Are The People” rally, which was organized to oppose government policies concerning immigration and asylum. The event was described as a far-right demonstration and focused particularly on criticism of the government’s approach to asylum seekers and immigration. Police deployed large numbers of officers to manage the gathering. According to the report, protesters threw fireworks and other projectiles at police, prompting a forceful response. Mounted police detained several people during the unrest, and officers briefly used water cannons to disperse the crowd. Flares released smoke that spread through parts of the surrounding streets as police attempted to secure the area. The report does not provide details about injuries, arrests beyond the detentions by mounted police, property damage, or the precise number of officers involved. It presents the confrontation primarily as a breakdown of order during a politically charged protest over immigration and asylum policy. The incident highlights the tensions surrounding migration in the Netherlands and the security challenges posed by large demonstrations involving far-right groups. The accompanying video report documents the confrontation and police response in The Hague.

Dutch riot police clashed with about 500 far-right protesters in central The Hague on Sept 19 after a rally against the government’s immigration policies escalated into violence. Protesters at the “We Are The People” demonstration chanted anti-Semitic slogans, performed Hitler salutes and threw fireworks and other projectiles at police officers and riot squads. Authorities had planned to allow the protesters to march through the city, but local officials banned the march after violence broke out in the park where demonstrators had gathered. Police used baton charges, specialist dogs and water cannon to disperse the crowd and end the demonstration. Police said 24 people were arrested and that further investigations were underway. Prime Minister Rob Jetten said on X that the demonstrators had deliberately sought a confrontation with police and condemned the “abhorrent” far-right and anti-Semitic slogans. Justice Minister David van Weel also called for firm action, citing the Hitler salutes, anti-Semitic chants, violence against police and the throwing of fireworks at riot officers. The protest was organized to oppose government policy, particularly what participants described as mass migration. One demonstrator, 31-year-old mechanic Thijs Jansen, told AFP, “We’re losing our country. We’re literally losing our country to mass migration.” The unrest highlights tensions surrounding immigration and the activities of the Netherlands’ far-right movement, while the government faces pressure to respond to violence and extremist rhetoric at public demonstrations.