Dutch riot police dispersed several hundred far-right demonstrators in The Hague on Saturday after violence broke out at a protest against immigration and asylum policies, with 24 people arrested and authorities banning a planned march through the city centre.

The demonstration was organised by We Are the People (Wij Zijn Het Volk), a Dutch far-right group, and drew around 500 attendees to the Malieveld — a large open park in the centre of The Hague, the seat of the Dutch government. Protesters, many dressed in black and some wearing face coverings, threw fireworks, sticks, smoke bombs, and traffic signs at police as the march was about to begin. Authorities banned the march early in the afternoon, citing disorder, violence against officers, and the persistent presence of masked individuals. A linked static demonstration at the Malieveld was initially permitted to continue but was later shut down entirely as unrest persisted. Police deployed pepper spray and a water cannon to disperse the crowd and escort demonstrators away from the area. A police car was set on fire during the clashes.

Among the incidents drawing condemnation, protesters were reported to have made Nazi salutes and chanted antisemitic slogans. Prime Minister Rob Jetten described the scenes as deeply disturbing, writing on X that "excessive violence was used against the police, abhorrent far-right and antisemitic chants were made, and Hitler salutes were given." Justice Minister David van Weel called for an "extremely firm" response, describing the footage as "disgusting." The Dutch Police Union called for those responsible to face criminal prosecution, stressing that violence against police "cannot be tolerated in our constitutional state."

The incident was also marked by a separate controversy involving the press. A Spanish photojournalist, who said he was visibly wearing his press credentials, was pushed by an officer and fell into a body of water during the clearing of the Malieveld. He told Dutch public broadcaster NOS that no officer came to assist him and that fellow photographers had to pull him out. He said he intends to file a complaint. Police acknowledged the incident, describing it as "an unfortunate set of circumstances," and said they were in contact with the journalist and examining possible compensation for his damaged equipment. Multiple other journalists reported being harassed or knocked down by demonstrators during the protest.

Saturday's unrest echoes similar scenes from a right-wing demonstration in The Hague exactly a year earlier. The acting mayor of The Hague, De Mos, credited the police with preventing the violence from spreading further into the city, while emphasising that "a line was crossed" with the attacks on officers. Order was restored by Saturday evening, though police remained on alert across the city.