Dutch "yellow vests" gather on Facebook

In the Netherlands, attempts have been made to create the "yellow vests" of the French protest movement. Several thousand people have registered in the closed Facebook group Gele Hesjes NL, created Sunday. They share their dissatisfaction with a wide range of issues and call for protest, as we have already seen in France and Belgium.

In France, the "yellow vests" initially targeted the rise in fuel prices. Then their package of requirements has increased. The Dutch "yellow jackets" also have a long list of points of action. The Facebook group, for example, includes the reduction of excise duties, a different health system and migration policy, a lowering of the retirement age and a basic income for all.

"Declaration against the government"

The group is run by a certain Jody. Taste He does not want to grant interview himself, but moderator Ingeborg Westerhoff masquerades as a spokesperson. "What we want can be different for everyone," she says. "Everyone grumbles and complains, and think that all alone, we want to show that you are not alone, and it's also a statement against the government."

Westerhoff says that he continues "until no one around us can do it." On Saturday, when the group wants to demonstrate in The Hague, it pulls itself a yellow vest because it does not feel heard. "Personally, I do not think we still have a democracy, we do not want a majority in the EU, if we do not want the euro, we voted against the association agreement with Ukraine and nothing is done to address it. "As far as I am concerned, Rutte will intervene immediately and the Netherlands will leave, directly from the European Union."

Occupy

Jacquelien van Stekelenburg, professor of social change at the University VU. Amsterdam sees many similarities with the Occupy movement, which set up tent camps around the world in 2011. "Just like at the time, there is a wide repertoire of complaints. has no big organizations behind the demonstrations and protests are spreading rapidly, the difference is that Occupy was against big money and "yellow vests" against government policy. "

It is difficult to predict whether the group will actually settle in the Netherlands. "Most Dutch people are not so optimistic about the election campaign, and it's hard to get into the movement of people pointing to the right."

Peaceful

The Dutch "yellow vests" are inspired by the demonstrations in France. There are now two dead and hundreds wounded. "We are supposed to stay peaceful here," Westerhof said.

The Municipality of The Hague has indicated that it has not received any notification for the meeting yet. On the square in front of the Binnenhof, where the demonstration is planned, a hundred people maximum can gather in the municipality. If there are more, the police will escort them to Malieveld.