Extinction Rebellion A12 motorway blockades

Extinction Rebellion activists have conducted a series of unannounced demonstrations by blocking the A12 motorway near The Hague.

In the first incident, approximately 50 protesters blocked the highway exit from the city for over two hours, citing drought and wildfires in Europe as motivation. Police ended the demonstration by order of the mayor, with some participants being escorted to buses to be moved out of the city.

A subsequent blockade occurred on a Saturday afternoon, causing significant traffic disruption as motorists attempted to bypass the site via sidewalks and medians. Following an order from Mayor Jan van Zanen, police removed demonstrators. While the group asserted that the climate crisis is too urgent to ignore, local political leaders from the Hart voor Den Haag and CDA parties condemned the actions as “dangerous, irresponsible, and polarizing.” The activists are calling for a parliamentary debate regarding drought and heat in the Netherlands.

A third blockade occurred on a Saturday afternoon when dozens of protesters occupied the Utrechtsebaan, a major traffic route. Mayor Jan van Zanen ordered an immediate evacuation. Police cleared the scene following recent agreements between the Ministry of Justice and Security, the Public Prosecution Service, and police to pursue criminal action against highway blockades due to safety risks.

Extinction Rebellion representatives stated that protests are not pre-announced to ensure anonymity and impact. The group is demanding an end to financial support for the fossil fuel industry and has indicated they will continue using civil disobedience to force political attention on climate change.