Police have arrested 24 people after an anti-immigration demonstration organised by a far-right group turned violent in The Hague.
Several hundred people gathered near Centraal Station at around 11am after a group called Wij Zijn Het Volk, meaning “We are the people”, announced the demonstration.
The protest took place exactly one year after a similar demonstration in The Hague ended in serious riots.
Some protesters covered their faces with balaclavas, scarves and masks. Nazi salutes were also seen, while demonstrators carried banners with racist slogans including “remigratie” and “blanke mannen vooraan”, meaning “white men first”.
Acting mayor Richard de Mos ordered riot police to clear the Malieveld after demonstrators attacked police and refused earlier instructions to remove their face coverings.
During the violence, rioters threw smoke bombs and fireworks. Traffic poles were also pulled from the ground, with at least one reportedly thrown at police officers.
Police responded by using dogs, pepper spray and batons to push the crowd back towards Centraal Station.
Order was eventually restored at around 3.30pm.
The violence was less severe than what happened during a similar demonstration a year earlier. During those riots, around 1,000 people reportedly set police cars on fire, blocked the A12 motorway and smashed windows at the offices of political party D66.
Justice minister David van Weel described the latest scenes as “atrocious” in a post on X, while De Mos said the violence against police had “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
