Hundreds of tractors are on their way to the parking lot of Spoor Oost in Antwerp as part of a protest action by Farmers Defense Force, a new action group that opposes the agreement of the Flemish government to limit nitrogen emissions.
As announced earlier this week, tractors from across Flanders will gather in Antwerp to take a stand against the Flemish government's lack of clear nitrogen agreement and the uncertainty that those working in the sector face.
"The intention is not to block roads," Bart Dickens, chair of the Farmers Defense Force group leading the demonstration, told VRT. "There may be a queue in some places but we try to cause as little inconvenience to the citizen as possible."
The farmers are therefore meeting at the large car park on the Spoor Oost site, east of the city centre. "We do invite everyone in the city to come and listen."
Minimising traffic disruptions
Most farmers arrived in Antwerp around noon, with the organisation expecting over 1,000 protesters. Local police have deployed members of its motorcycle brigade at a number of crucial traffic points to ensure the tractor procession can pass smoothly.
"Once they have arrived at Spoor Oost, we let them do their thing. The farmers will be demonstrating. Only when that is over do we ensure that they can safely leave our city," said Wouter Bruyns of the Antwerp police.
Farmers Defense Force (FDF) Belgium is a relatively new farmers' organisation in the country and is considered the little brother of the Dutch one of the same name, which is much more established and is known for its hard demonstrations against the nitrogen measures.
FDF Belgium believes that the industry and the agricultural sector are treated unequally by the Flemish government in the nitrogen dossier and also believes that the government uses incorrect figures on nitrogen emissions.
The decision to protest in Antwerp and not Brussels (as with previous demonstrations) follows recent concerns about chemical company Ineos, a polluting industry which farmers argue is getting preferential treatment from the Flemish government. Legislators are doing everything possible so that Ineos can once again obtain a permit for the ethane cracker it is building in the port of Antwerp. The previous permit had been withdrawn due to uncertainties about the nitrogen impact on nearby nature.
"N-VA chair (and mayor of Antwerp) Bart De Wever has accelerated the Ineos dossier," said Dickens, adding that Flemish Environment Minister Zuhal Demir is also being criticised. "N-VA wants to destroy the agricultural sector."
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The organisation of today's farmers' demonstration is solely in the hands of the FDF. "But we do hope that members of the Boerenbond and Algemeen Boerensyndicaat unions will join us. It does not matter which flag is being used. As farmers, we have to be united."
While the Dutch branch of the FDF is known for its strong demonstrations against the nitrogen measures, Dickens called for a peaceful movement. Still, he is not ruling out more intense protests. "We hope for a conversation. But if we are not heard, we do not have much to lose."
