Far-right protest violence outside The Hague as police clash with demonstrators ahead of Dutch election

A far-right protest outside The Hague erupted into violence as demonstrators clashed with police, throwing bottles at officers and torching a police car. In the chaotic scene, riot police deployed tear gas and a water cannon to disperse the crowd.

The demonstration drew hundreds to the city center, with many attendees wearing black and waving flags. It called for tougher asylum policies. Rioters damaged the office of the D66 party, and a police car was set alight as officers tried to restore order near the parliament complex, which is currently fenced off for renovation.

Els Rechts, a prominent right-wing activist who organized the rally, posted on social media condemning the violence and saying she would not have staged it had she known it would turn violent.

Speakers at the event included a member of the BVNL, who has previously described the country as a multicultural nightmare.

The unrest comes weeks before the Dutch general election on Oct. 29, after anti-Islam lawmaker Geert Wilders pulled his party from the ruling coalition in a dispute over migration policy. In a statement, Wilders condemned the rioters for blocking a highway and attacking police, calling them idiots and scum.

Authorities said there had been no confirmed reports of injuries or arrests by late evening. The episode underscores the charged climate surrounding migration and asylum policy as the election approaches, with security forces continuing to monitor demonstrations in major cities.