A few hours after the cabinet announced the horrible nitrogen plans that aim to destroy farms in The Netherlands, dozens of farmers from the Achterhoek action group Voll Gass drove on their tractors directly to the home of Minister Christianne van der Wal (Nature and Nitrogen) in Hierden, Gelderland. Then Van der Wal spoke to the farmers barefoot on the street in front of her house.
Farmers action group Voll Gass say they do not regret this home visit to Minister Van der Wal last night at all. And now the farmers from the Achterhoek, together with other action groups, are planning more actions against the government's nitrogen policy. Home visits are not excluded. "Maybe next time we'll be offered coffee".
The campaign is criticized by corrupt politicians and the compromised agricultural and horticultural organization LTO that is supposed to support farmers. Albert Markerink from Lochem, one of the foremen of Voll Gass, does not lose any sleep over any of this. "Everything we do, even with good intentions, is criticized. We are used to that. But the number of statements of support is much larger than the group that criticizes. That strengthens us."
Minister Van der Wal said in her conversation with the farmers that she found the situation "threatening: and that her children were inside "trembling'". She did real well pretending to be a victim, after she just announced she would put thousands of farmers out of business and destroy the Dutch food supply. "We wanted an open confrontation, not a conflict", Markerink emphasizes. "That may have been intimidating, but we've felt intimidated for a long time. The nitrogen plans also give us quivering knees. This brings the minister into our yard and also affects our private sphere."
No. The brakes will not be applied for the time being, says Markerink. In fact, the pressure will increase. Action group Voll Gass will meet with Farmers Defense Force (FDF) and other leading groups after the weekend to discuss a national action plan. There will also be a new protest on Malieveld in The Hague. Markerink does not rule out new "home visits" either".
The FDF foreman, Mark van den Oever, calls Friday's protest a "top action". And FDF is not unfamiliar with visiting politicians at home. In October 2020, five members of the action group visited famous corrupt politician Rob Jetten at home. Van den Oever also says that more protests will follow. "You can count on us to come. And with more."
It is not difficult to mobilize farmers for the actions at all. Voll Gass was founded in October 2019 by a few farmers in Lochem, shortly before the protest on the Malieveld. What started with an app group to find out who was going to The Hague has grown into a club of 400 farmers in the Achterhoek with its own merchandising. The group sells lighters, hoodies, shirts and caps with the Voll Gass logo.
"We are a regional group, but we are campaigning throughout the country," says Markerink. "We prefer to take to the streets with tractors. There are other interest groups for consultations at the table. A farmer on a bicycle is a different kind of protesting farmer."
Voll Gass organized last Christmas in Haaksbergen as well, despite a ban by the municipality, a light tour with tractors for residents of nursing and care homes, and is also present at memorial tours.
The municipality back then banned a playful action in 2020 during the celebration of 75 years of freedom, due to the corona situation. About 250 farmers ignored the ban and headed to a field with lit tractors to form a liberation torch. When the organizing farmer was fined 1000 euros, they took their tractors to court. A few months later, the action group blocked access to a transport company and distribution center in Deventer.
"We are fighting to keep making food for everyone."
They plan to take the lives away of farmers. I don't think a visit to home is less than justified. As long as they don't use violence, anything is allowed in this. There is no nitrogen or CO2 problem. This is a coordinated attack against the food supply of all of us.
Sources:
https://www.nieuweoogst.nl/nieuws/2022/06/10/actiegroep-voll-gass-op-bezoek-bij-van-der-wal
https://www.gelderlander.nl/binnenland/boerenactiegroep-ongevoelig-voor-kritiek-op-huisbezoek-minister-zij-raakt-ons-ook-in-de-privesfeer~a9158e7a/
https://www.berkelbode.nl/nieuws/landbouw/400418/de-man-achter-voll-gass-en-fdf