Extinction Rebellion activists block A12 motorway in The Hague

Climate activists from Extinction Rebellion blocked the A12 motorway in The Hague on Saturday afternoon. Dozens of protesters occupied the Utrechtsebaan, a major traffic route exiting the city, starting shortly after 1:00 PM.

Mayor Jan van Zanen ordered an immediate evacuation of the highway. Police responded to the scene to clear the blockade, following recent agreements between the Ministry of Justice and Security, the Public Prosecution Service, and police to take criminal action against highway blockades due to safety risks.

Extinction Rebellion representatives stated the protest was not pre-announced to ensure anonymity and a higher chance of impact. The group is demanding urgent political action to address the climate crisis and an end to financial support for the fossil fuel industry. While authorities emphasized that blocking major transport routes exceeds the right to demonstrate, activists indicated they would continue to use civil disobedience to force political attention on climate change.