Thousands of climate change activists blocked a major motorway in The Hague for hours on Saturday, breaking through a police barrier and sitting on a main road leading to the temporary venue for the lower house of parliament. The protest, involving groups such as Extinction Rebellion and Greenpeace, targeted subsidies given to industries that use fossil fuels.
Protesters wore swimming costumes and waterproof coats, dancing while police fired water cannons at them on the Utrechtsebaan on the A12. The activists have threatened a permanent blockade, vowing to 'stay or come back every day' until fossil fuel subsidies are dropped.
Among those held was Dutch actress Carice van Houten, best known for her role as Melisandre in 'Game of Thrones,' according to Extinction Rebellion spokeswoman Anne Kervers. Police made an unknown number of arrests, wheeling some protesters away in orange wagons.
Around 25,000 people had turned out by early afternoon, according to Extinction Rebellion, though The Hague mayoral spokesman Robin Middel put the turnout at 10,000 to 12,000. Activist Yolanda de Jager said, 'This is much larger than any one of us. This concerns the whole world.'
