Dutch police detain, forcibly remove journalists covering climate protests

Dutch authorities should stop harassing, detaining, and removing journalists from protests, and allow them to cover events of public interest without police interference, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday.

Since January 21, Dutch police have detained two journalists and forcibly removed another while they reported on climate protests, according to multiple news reports and the journalists, who communicated with CPJ via email. 

“Dutch authorities should conduct a swift and transparent investigation into the detention and forcible removal of reporters from recent climate protests and ensure that members of the press can report on events of public interest without police interference,” said Attila Mong, CPJ’s Europe representative. “Journalists deserve police officers’ protection during protests, rather than their harassment.”

On January 21, police briefly detained Sara Berkeljon, a reporter for the daily newspaper de Volkskrant, and Renate Beense, a photographer at the outlet, as they reported on climate activists preparing to block the A12 highway in The Hague as part of a demonstration, according to those reports and Berkeljon.

Police arrested the journalists alongside the activists, despite wearing press vests, and fined them 129 euros (US$140) for “using the motorway other than with a motor vehicle.” They were released after a few hours, and Berkeljon said her newspaper would attempt to appeal the fine. 

Separately, on January 28, police approached Jesper Peeters, a freelance photojournalist working for several Dutch media outlets, while he was photographing climate activists occupying the A12 highway, according to Peeters and those reports.

Despite wearing a press vest and carrying two cameras, Peeters was asked to provide identification and a “riot-card.” The journalist showed his press credentials but said he didn’t know what a riot-card was and attempted to return to work. Police forcibly escorted Peeters from the protest site and warned him against returning.

Peeters said he plans to file a complaint about the officers’ actions.

CPJ emailed the press department of the police in The Hague but did not receive any reply.

Source: CPJ