Dutch riot police disperse violent far-right protest in The Hague

Dutch riot police clashed with around 500 far-right protesters in The Hague on September 19, 2026, after a demonstration organized by 'We Are the People' turned violent. Protesters threw fireworks, made Nazi salutes, and chanted antisemitic slogans, prompting local authorities to ban their planned march. Police used water cannons, batons, and dogs to disperse the crowd, arresting 24 people. Prime Minister Rob Jetten and Justice Minister David van Weel strongly condemned the violence.

Far-right protest violence

• ▪Dutch riot police clashed with approximately 500 far-right protesters in the center of The Hague on September 19, 2026, after violence erupted at a rally.
• ▪Protesters at the September 19, 2026, rally in The Hague, organized by 'We Are the People,' threw fireworks and other projectiles at police officers

Police dispersal operations

• ▪Dutch riot police arrested 24 people during the September 19, 2026, demonstration organized by 'We Are the People' in The Hague for offenses including failing to comply with orders and illegal weapon possession
• ▪Dutch police used baton charges, specialist dogs, pepper spray, and water cannons to disperse the rioters in The Hague on September 19, 2026.
• ▪The Hague municipality banned the planned march by 'We Are the People' and ordered the crowd to disperse after violence broke out at the Malieveld park where demonstrators were gathering

Antisemitic slogans chanted

• ▪Demonstrators at the September 19, 2026, rally in The Hague chanted antisemitic slogans and made Nazi salutes.
• ▪Prime Minister Rob Jetten stated that the demonstrators in The Hague deliberately sought confrontation with police and chanted abhorrent far-right and antisemitic slogans.

Immigration policy protests

• ▪The rally in The Hague on September 19, 2026, organized by the far-right group 'We Are the People,' was called to protest against Dutch government policies, specifically regarding immigration and asylum
• ▪Protester Thijs Jansen, a 31-year-old mechanic, told AFP that the demonstrators were protesting because they felt they were losing their country to mass migration.

Government officials condemn extremism

• ▪Dutch Justice Minister David van Weel called for an extremely firm response to the September 19, 2026, protest in The Hague, describing the actions of the demonstrators as disgusting scenes
• ▪Justice Minister David van Weel thanked the police officers on social media for standing up for the democratic rule of law during the unrest in The Hague.

Previous year riots

• ▪During riots that erupted at a right-wing demonstration in The Hague, protesters attacked the headquarters of the centrist D66 party, which is led by current Prime Minister Rob Jetten
• ▪The unrest in The Hague on September 19, 2026, occurred exactly one year after a previous right-wing demonstration led to clashes where a police car was burned

Debatable claims

• ▪The Netherlands should significantly restrict immigration and asylum
• ▪The Hague municipality was justified in banning the far-right march
• ▪Dutch police used appropriate force to disperse the protesters