Dutch farmers rally against nitrogen permit clampdown

Hundreds of Dutch farmers drove tractors to a provincial government building in Den Bosch today (Friday 14 August) in protest at the local government’s strict nitrogen policies.

The demonstration is being led by Farmers Defence Force and other agricultural groups, with the immediate focus on North Brabant’s plan to revoke nature permits for five poultry farms.

The move has reignited a long-running dispute over nitrogen rules, with farmers arguing that the permits are legally valid and warning that their livelihoods are being put at risk.

See also: Dutch farmers restart tractor protests over nitrogen cuts

The provincial government says the permits may have to be withdrawn because the farms are near nitrogen-sensitive protected areas, including De Peel and Kampina.

The move follows a 2025 Dutch court ruling requiring significant reductions in nitrogen pollution near protected nature areas in the province of North Brabant.

Farmers and agricultural groups argue that the businesses hold legally valid permits and have already proposed measures to reduce emissions.

LTO Netherlands (the Netherlands Agricultural and Horticultural Association), which represents more than 35,000 Dutch farmers and horticulturalists, called the proposed withdrawals unacceptable and warned they undermined farmers’ trust in government.

The protest has caused severe congestion on roads around Den Bosch. On the A59 near Heesch, four vehicles were involved in a crash at the tail of a traffic jam, killing two people and injuring others. Authorities have not established that the tractor convoy caused the collision, and the circumstances are being investigated.

Government view

Dutch agriculture minister Jaimi van Essen has backed the need for a consistent approach to nitrogen enforcement, while stressing that provinces have responsibility for individual permit cases.

He said he would consult North Brabant and other provinces on how enforcement and withdrawal requests should be handled.