Freedom of expression
Dutch parliament passes motion calling for the criminalisation of the slogan “from the river to the sea”
A motion urging the Cabinet to make the phrase "From the River to the Sea" illegal was approved by a minimal majority of Dutch lawmakers on 21st May. In a roll call vote in the lower chamber of the Dutch Parliament, the measure was approved 74-73. Some people see the slogan as an appeal for religious equality and peace between Israelis and Palestinians in a single state, while others view it as a call to action for the destruction of the State of Israel, which is situated between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River. However, according to the now-adopted motion, the contentious statement “entails a call for violence against all Jews worldwide.”
In passing the motion, the lawmakers called on the Cabinet to “consider the phrase ‘From the River to the Sea’ as an incitement to violence.” As such, it could lead to prosecution under the laws against incitement to violence and hate speech directed at particular groups of people. This could prove difficult in practice, as an appeals court ruled in August 2023 that the expression did not constitute a criminal offence. The ruling was issued in a case against a Dutch activist for his speech at a Palestine solidarity rally in 2021.
Freedom of peaceful assembly
Extinction Rebellion protests spark mass arrests as activists face fines for ongoing blockades
On 3rd February 2024, around 1,000 climate activists from the Extinction Rebellion (XR) initiative were arrested during a blockade of the A12 in The Hague to protest against state subsidies for the fossil fuel industry. Police began removing activists and escorted them to detention vans 45 minutes after the road was blocked.
On 24th February, over 300 XR activists were arrested for blocking the A10 motorway in Amsterdam. Of these, 31 were detained for endangering traffic with vehicles and smoke bombs, while the remaining protesters were later released. The action was banned by the authorities due to safety concerns, and police confiscated vehicles and protest materials. The criminal investigation concerning the 31 detained activists is ongoing.
On 23rd March, police arrested 31 XR and Scientist Rebellion (SR) demonstrators during a protest at Eindhoven Airport. The arrests happened after a select group tried to breach the grounds through a fence, which is forbidden. Protesters, calling for a reduction in flights and a ban on private jets, later moved inside the terminal. The demonstration remained peaceful, with minimal disruption to travellers.
On 6h April, around 400 climate activists were arrested during the XR blockades in The Hague, mostly for violating the Public Manifestations Act. Police prevented XR from blocking the A12 motorway, leading activists to disrupt other roads throughout the city. Twelve people were arrested while trying to block the A12, for refusing to comply with orders or identify themselves. Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg was detained twice during the protests, and later put in a detainee bus. The police confirmed that all those arrested, including Thunberg, were later released.
On 22nd February, the Public Prosecution Service fined six Extinction Rebellion activists €200 each for a previous blockade of the A10 motorway in Amsterdam on December 30th 2023, citing the creation of a dangerous situation. The activists plan to appeal the fines, arguing that their demonstration was crucial in protesting Dutch multinational banking corporation ING's financing of climate destruction. The prosecutor acknowledged the right to protest but deemed a motorway an irresponsible venue for such actions. Extinction Rebellion has announced plans for another protest on the motorway, insisting they will not accept an alternative location.
On 9th March, around 60 Extinction Rebellion activists protested outside Maastricht Aachen Airport against the use of private jets during the international art fair TEFAF. The demonstrators blocked entrances to the MECC exhibition building, citing the "disproportionately high environmental impact" of private jet travel. Despite a heavy police presence, including emergency orders from local municipalities, the activists maintained that their protests were essential for raising awareness. The airport management expressed openness to discussions, but noted previous talks with XR had not yielded results.
Dutch authorities drop charges against Greenpeace protesters, acknowledging misidentification
The Dutch public prosecution department has admitted that border police failed to properly identify 73 Greenpeace protestors involved in a November 2022 demonstration at Schiphol airport. Of the 400 people arrested, many refused to provide identification, leading police to use facial recognition software and social media images. It was later found that at least seven individuals were wrongly identified. The department now says 90 protestors were correctly identified, but the identities of 64 remain unconfirmed and nine were misidentified. The police have pledged to improve their processes, and several court cases are being dropped due to delays and capacity issues.
Charges filed against officers for assault during 2021 protest against COVID-19 restrictions
The Public Prosecution Service (OM) has announced it will prosecute two police officers for using excessive force during a protest against COVID-19 measures in March 2021. The officers, a dog handler and a riot police officer, used a service dog and batons to subdue a protester who sustained injuries and required hospital treatment. After initial investigations and witness hearings, the case will proceed in the so-called “blue chamber” of the Midden-Nederland District Court, which handles cases relating to use of force by police. The OM maintains that most of the violence used by the police was “largely lawful”.
Farmers arrested as highway protests spark emergency order
On 5th February, two farmers were arrested for dumping waste and setting fires during protests on the A50 motorway. This sparked calls on social media to free them, leading to an emergency order being issued in Apeldoorn for 7th February. Despite heavy police presence, the night passed without disruptions. Earlier that day, Justice Minister Dilan Yeşilgöz, the police and the Public Prosecution Service agreed to react “more quickly and directly” against unlawful protests. Meanwhile, farmers continued their demonstrations, setting fires on highways and dumping manure. Authorities condemned the disruptive acts, warning they undermine public support for lawful protests.
Pro-Palestinian protests supressed
On 11th January, several hundred demonstrators gathered outside the International Court of Justice in The Hague for hearings in South Africa's genocide case against Israel. Supporters of both the Palestinian cause and Israel were present, separated by police, with proceedings being broadcasted on a big screen. Hundreds of Israel supporters marched from the parliament complex to the Peace Palace.
On 10th March, thirteen people were arrested in Amsterdam during protests against Israeli President Yitzhak Herzog's attendance at the opening of the Holocaust museum. Around 2,000 demonstrators gathered near Waterlooplein, calling for a ceasefire and Herzog's arrest. Though most protests were peaceful, arrests were made for public order offences, vandalism and throwing stones. King Willem-Alexander acknowledged the protestors, stressing the importance of the right to demonstrate.
Following these protests, which took place earlier in the day, the annual Feminist March in Amsterdam scheduled for the evening of 10th March was cancelled due to safety concerns. Organisers cited fears for vulnerable groups, particularly after the police intervened at the pro-Palestinian demonstration near Waterlooplein, and noted capacity issues as volunteers withdrew. “We are particularly concerned about the safety of the Palestinian bloc that would have been at the front of the march,” the Feminist March Foundation said on its website. Police denied using excessive force, saying their actions were proportionate. The next Feminist March has not yet been rescheduled.
On 7th May, police violently broke up a student encampment at the University of Amsterdam using pepper spray, police batons, police dogs and bulldozers against protesters. Students set up the encampment the day before, demanding that the school administration cut its ties with Israeli-affiliated institutions and barricading themselves on the university lawn. After midnight, riot police and police dogs were mobilised to storm and clear the camp, with bulldozers used to destroy the barricades for allegedly making the area “unsafe” for the protesters themselves and preventing access to emergency services. Clashes broke out as protesters resisted eviction, with one protester and one police officer injured and 169 protesters detained.
Caretaker Cabinet to consider introducing new grounds to limit the right to protest
In April 2024, the Netherlands' caretaker cabinet announced it had commissioned an independent study to assess the limits of the right to protest. Ministers Hugo de Jonge (Interior Affairs) and Dilan Yeşilgöz (Justice and Security) announced the decision, emphasising that the right to protest must not undermine public order or safety.
Yeşilgöz explained that the motivation for the study is an increase in protests that push or break the law, endanger public safety, or violate the rights of others. De Jonge stated that he supports the right to protest, but added that this right “does not offer a free pass to purposefully break the rules and harm the interests of others.”
The study will review whether Dutch laws are sufficient, especially compared to the European Convention on Human Rights, which permits limiting demonstrations on grounds of national security—an option not currently available in Dutch law. The government is also considering stricter measures against protests that involve illegal actions, like highway blockades and arson.