Dutch PM decries violent protests over immigration Policy in The Hague

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
20 Sep 2025 23:26

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof condemned violent protests in The Hague against the government's migration policy, following attacks on police and the D66 party headquarters.

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Netherland's Prime Minister Dick Schoof speaks with the media as he arrives for an EU summit at the European Council building in Brussels, Thursday, June 26, 2025 (AP)

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof strongly condemned the violent protests that erupted in The Hague on Saturday, following demonstrations against the government’s migration policy. The unrest saw attacks on law enforcement officers and damage to the headquarters of the center-left Democrats 66 (D66) party.

"It is absolutely unacceptable that the rioters attacked police officers and, among other things, destroyed police vehicles and the D66 party office ... I am absolutely confident that the police and prosecutors will do everything possible to detain and bring those responsible to justice. Demonstrations always have a place, but violence never has," Schoof wrote on X.

The Dutch far-right organised a massive protest today in The Hague. They expected right wing political party leaders who are currently campaigning for general elections to come and speak at their event. Instead, they got hooligans, rain and police dogs.
pic.twitter.com/WhljS2eRtK
— Sangar Paykhar - سنګر پیکار (@paykhar) September 20, 2025

Attacks target police, D66 party office

What began as a protest on the Malieveld field escalated into violence after demonstrators moved toward the A12 highway, blocking traffic and clashing with police. Rioters set fire to a police vehicle, threw stones at officers, and forced authorities to use water cannons to disperse crowds.

In one of the more targeted incidents, protesters smashed windows on the ground floor of the D66 party headquarters and set a trash bin ablaze near the entrance. Eyewitnesses reported that a group of aggressive individuals gathered outside the building, shouting slogans and calling for the closure of refugee centers in the Netherlands.

Saturday’s events mark one of the most intense public reactions to migration policy in the Netherlands in recent months, highlighting growing divisions within Dutch society over the handling of refugee accommodation and border control.

Migration policies cause government collapse

It is worth noting that the Netherlands is set to hold snap elections on October 29 following the collapse of the ruling coalition after far-right leader Geert Wilders brought down the government by pulling out of his coalition.

"We have officially set the election date: the... elections will take place on Wednesday 29 October 2025," Dutch Interior Minister Judith Uitermark posted on X, adding that "in the coming period, I will work with the municipalities and other stakeholders to prepare so that this important day in our democracy goes smoothly."

Wilders had explained that his coalition partners had rejected his plans to restrict asylum migration, while also mentioning that he had informed Prime Minister Dick Schoof about his PVV party's move to pull all its ministers from the government.

Wilders complained that the Netherlands was moving too slowly to enforce what he called the strictest immigration policy ever agreed upon by the four-party coalition before deciding to withdraw his party from the government.