Hoards of tractors have descended upon the city for several evenings
Mayor Koen Schuiling of Groningen has criticised farmers that take to Groningen’s streets in protests each evening.
According to the mayor, everyone has the right to demonstrate, but he is annoyed that there has been no consultation between the protest leaders and the gemeente, which is impacting road safety.
The protests are by angry farmers, who have driven into the city on their tractors in protest at new environmental measures proposed by the Dutch government. As reported by RTV Noord.
Mayor Schuiling says that protesting this way over the past three evenings “in this form are irresponsible,” he says.
Demonstrations are only allowed within an organised context, and on the basis of agreements so that it can be done safely. Driving 20-tonne farm machinery through the centre of the densely populated city does not come under these provisions.
Image: protesting tractors in the Hague. Image via Wikimedia user Steven Lek. License here.
