Arrests after far-right protesters attack police in The Hague

Police have made 24 arrests in The Hague after an anti-immigration march in The Hague organised by a far-right group turned violent.

Several hundred people gathered at the site near Centraal Station at around 11am after a group calling itself Wij Zijn Het Volk (“We are the people”) announced the event, exactly a year after a similar demonstration descended into a full-blown riot.

Protesters wearing balaclavas, scarves and masks to cover their faces gave Nazi salutes and carried banners with racist slogans such as “remigratie” (remig “blanke mannen vooraan” (“white men first”).

Acting mayor Richard de Mos ordered riot police to clear the Malieveld after demonstrators attacked police and ignored earlier orders to remove face coverings.

The rioters threw smoke bombs and fireworks and ripped traffic poles out of the ground, at least one of which was hurled at police. Police beat back the crowd towards Centraal Station using dogs, pepper spray and batons, managing to restore order by 3.30pm.

However, the violence was less extreme than a year ago, when 1,000 rioters set fire to police cars, blockaded the A12 motorway and smashed windows at the offices of political party D66.

“Atrocious”

Justice minister David van Weel called the scenes “atrocious” in a post on social media site X, while De Mos said the violence directed at police “crossed a line”.

“Hitler salutes, anti-Semitic chants, violence against police and fireworks thrown at riot squad officers,” Van Weel said. “It’s important that these people are dealt with severely.”

“That is why we cancelled the march and only allowed a demonstration on the Malieveld,” De Mos said. “When the violence continued, it was necessary to put an end to it.”

Walgelijke beelden vanaf het Malieveld. Hitlergroeten, antisemitische leuzen, geweld tegen de politie en vuurwerk gooien naar de ME. Belangrijk dat hier snoeihard tegen opgetreden wordt. Dank aan alle agenten die weer voor onze rechtsstaat staan.https://t.co/31JadLNBjJ

— David van Weel (@ministerjenv) September 19, 2026