Severe tension flared up in The Hague, the administrative capital of the Netherlands, following an anti-immigration demonstration organized in defiance of an official municipal ban. On Saturday (September 19, 2026), repeated clashes broke out between protesters and riot police during a rally convened by the right-wing group “We Are The People.”
According to local police and eyewitness sources, a march involving several hundred participants had been scheduled for Saturday, but municipal authorities prohibited the gathering citing public safety concerns. Despite the ban, hundreds of demonstrators assembled in the city center carrying national flags, anti-immigration banners, and placards, leading to a volatile standoff.
The situation escalated into violence when demonstrators attempted to push through law enforcement cordons. A faction of the protesters hurled fireworks, bricks, and bottles at officers on duty.
To regain control and disperse the crowd, riot police deployed high-pressure water cannons. Mounted police units and trained canine squads were subsequently brought in to clear the area. Multiple individuals involved in the violence were detained at the scene and taken into police custody.
The Hague Police stated that the exact number of arrests remains under investigation and will be released later. Additional police personnel remain deployed across the city center to maintain order.
