Police arrest dozens after anti-war activists block railway line at the Port of Rotterdam
Police arrested at least 100 protesters on Saturday after hundreds of climate activists and anti-war demonstrators shut down the main freight railway line at the Port of Rotterdam, one of the busiest ports in Europe. The closure lasted for several hours, disrupting shipping traffic between Maasvlakte and Barendrecht.
The protest was organized by the activist group Geef Tegengas, which accused the port of complicity in "wars, persecution, and climate destruction." The group described the port as the "Dutch engine of death and destruction," and called for a complete ban on arms trade with Israel, a halt to dealings with countries accused of human rights violations, as well as a plan to end polluting activities within the port.
According to the group, about 800 people participated in the protest, while local media Rijnmond estimated the number of demonstrators to be around 400, spread across multiple locations, including Fondelinghenplaat, Ijmuiden, and Vanblin intersection. Many protesters tied themselves to the railway tracks, prompting the police to use technical teams to remove them before making arrests.
Initially, the police and riot units monitored the protest without intervention, but they moved in when the demonstrators refused to leave after several warnings. Witnesses reported that officers dragged some protesters off the tracks and used force during the arrests. Protesters held signs with slogans such as: "No to bombs, barrels, or lies" and "This port has gone off the rails," while song coordinators played music and passionate speeches were delivered beside the railway.
The Rotterdam protest came after a similar demonstration on Friday organized by the same group, where access to the APM and Rotterdam World Gateway terminals in Tweed Maassluis was closed. About 100 activists participated in that demonstration, and tensions escalated when some truck drivers confronted the protesters before police intervened.
The situation was exacerbated by the ongoing strike of port workers since Wednesday, demanding higher wages and better working conditions. The strike was extended indefinitely on Friday, prompting port companies to file an urgent lawsuit in court to stop it. The group Geef Tegengas announced its full support for the striking workers, praising their ability to "completely paralyze the port operations," considering it evidence of "the power of workers when they mobilize," and asserting that "the profits of major transport companies and their shareholders exploit and kill people in and out of the port."