Prominent Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg found herself in the custody of Dutch authorities not once, but twice on Saturday, following her participation in an Extinction Rebellion demonstration targeting fossil fuel subsidies.
Initially apprehended by local police, Thunberg was released briefly before rejoining fellow protesters blocking a key roadway leading to The Hague’s main railway station. It was during this second attempt to disrupt traffic that Thunberg was detained again, ultimately being escorted away in a police van.
The demonstration, organized by Extinction Rebellion, aimed to draw attention to Dutch government support for the fossil fuel industry. Dozens of officers, including mounted units, were deployed to prevent activists from accessing the A12 motorway leading to the national parliament.
Throughout the day, police reported the arrest of over 400 individuals for failing to comply with dispersal orders. Despite the arrests, protesters persisted, chanting slogans such as “We are unstoppable, another world is possible.”
Speaking to AFP news agency, Thunberg emphasized the urgency of addressing the climate crisis, stating, “We are living in a state of planetary emergency.” When asked about the possibility of arrest, she responded, “Why should I be?”
Extinction Rebellion reaffirmed its commitment to ongoing protests until the Dutch government ceases subsidizing the fossil fuel industry, condemning what they perceive as a lack of urgency from authorities.
The demonstration forms part of a broader strategy to pressure the Dutch government ahead of a scheduled debate on fossil fuel subsidies in June.
Thunberg, renowned for igniting a global youth movement to combat climate change, has a history of civil disobedience. In February, she was acquitted of a public order offense in London, and in January, she was detained during protests in Germany.
Her activism began in 2018 with weekly protests outside the Swedish parliament, resulting in fines for civil disobedience in both Sweden and the UK.
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