King Willem-Alexander called for a stronger Dutch society and a Europe less dependent on forces like Russia and China in his eleventh Prinsjesdag speech from the throne. The third Tuesday in September is the traditional date of the address, which precedes the Cabinet's publication of its budget proposal for the following year. There was some unrest near the site of the speech, the Koninklijke Schouwburg in The Hague, with people heckling the royal carriages as they passed, and some others waiving critical signs, and upside-down Dutch flags.
Climate activists blocked the A12 highway in The Hague for the second day in a row on Sunday. Around 11:45 a.m., the first protesters arrived on the highway, and by 11:55 a.m. there were about 1,000 demonstrators on and along the A12. The police arrested one climate activist, according to an ANP reporter on the scene.
Fences with black screens were placed above the Utrechtsebaan in The Hague, part of the A12 highway, on Friday. They are used to prevent people driving on this road from coming into contact with the demonstrating climate activists down in the tunnel. Extinction Rebellion supporters plan to block the highway daily starting Saturday to protest government support of the fossil fuel industry.
As with previous highway blockades, The Hague banned Extinction Rebellion supporters from blocking the A12 highway. But this time, climate activists are also not welcome at the Malieveld next door, where they want to hold a support demonstration. All protesters must go to Laan van Reagan en Gorbatsjov, opposite Den Haag Central Station. Mayor Jan van Zanen announced those restrictions on Thursday.
Jamel L., the 56-year-old who was detained for the fatal stabbing in a supermarket in The Hague, will remain in custody for at least another 90 days. The Council Chamber of the District Court in The Hague decided on Thursday to order him to remain in custody for killing Antoneta Gjokja. L. was suspected of stabbing the 36-year-old Albert Heijn employee to death on June 20, just after the store on the Turfmarkt opened for the day. The Romanian woman died at the scene.