Farmers angered by government plans to limit carbon and nitrogen emissions out of their farms began another day of protests by blocking supermarket distribution hubs in several northern towns, including Beilen (Jumbo), Gieten (Coop), Heerenveen (Lidl), and Drachten (Aldi), the Dagblad van het Noorden reports. Entrances to supermarket warehouses have also been blocked elsewhere in the country.
Dutch supermarket association CBL called on the authorities to take action and warned of possible shortages in stores. “Blockades of distribution centers cause damage to the citizens of the Netherlands. Supermarkets do everything possible to keep the stores stocked, but if blockades continue, it could lead to people not being able to do their daily shopping,” the Central Bureau for Food Trade said in its statement.
Several traffic jams were reported on highways and on ferry routes in the north. A boat service between Den Helder and Texel was called off due to the blockade, and dozens of farmers blocked the border with Germany at Coevorden with bags full of manure.
In the meantime, shrimp fishers, who protested against high fuel prices, construction of wind farms in the sea, and the ban on some fishing methods, have lifted their blockade of Lauwersoog harbor.
Yesterday, a high school student organization urged the farmers to allow school buses to pass through their picket lines because the final exam in many schools is scheduled for Monday.
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