Campaign group Extinction Rebellion plans to hold its 40th blockade of the A12 motorway into the centre of The Hague on Saturday, calling for action to combat climate change.

The group expects some 1,500 people to turn up for the protest, well below the numbers the blockades attracted in 2023 and last year.

At the same time, research among the 18,000 members of the RTL opinion panel suggests climate change is becoming less important in the Netherlands.

“In 2020, climate was in the top three most important issues,” said pollster Gijs Rademaker. “Last year it dropped to sixth and now it is in 10^th place. The housing market, healthcare, immigration and safety are now dominating the social and political agenda.”

There is still broad support in the poll for ER’s aim to persuade the government to get rid of tax breaks for fossil fuel companies. Six in 10 respondents said the government should stop subsidiszing the industry, although this is down from seven in 10, 18 months ago.

However, only 11% think blocking the A12 is a good way to protest.

Not nice

“Our aim is not to be nice or popular but to be effective,” ER’s Rozemarijn van ‘t Einde told RTL. The ultimate aim is to get attention for climate justice, she said. “The fact that the theme has become part of the public agenda and politicians talk about it, is a win.”