1971 Dutch farmers' revolt

Farmers demonstrate as riot police guard the tent where voting took place.

The 1971 Dutch farmers' revolt (Dutch: Boerenopstand van 1971) took place on 21 December 1971 in the municipality of Tubbergen in Overijssel, the Netherlands.[1] The rebellion was set off by an intended land consolidation of, in particular, agricultural land.

Voting

In the stakeholder vote on the land consolidation plan there were 2,938 eligible voters, about 1,200 of whom were farmers. Only 27 votes were cast, 15 in favor and 12 against the proposal. Despite the low turnout, the plan was approved, because the votes that were not cast were considered to be in favor. This was seen as unfair by many residents of the municipality.

Riots

Riots erupted in the villages of Tubbergen and Geesteren. The windows of the town hall were smashed and the residence of mayor Lodewijk Paul Hubertus Schepers [nl] was set on fire.[2] Riot police was deployed and several people were injured, one police officer was even stabbed in the back. In 1972, a report on the events was discussed in the House of Representatives.[3]

Aftermath

On 26 March 1973, a new vote on the land consolidation took place. The plan was rejected by majority vote, after which it wasn't considered for implementation again.[4]

In 2021, a theater production looked back on this turbulent episode.[5] Fifty years later, there were still mixed feelings about the 'revolt' in Tubbergen.[6][7]

Images

  • Farmers in front of a banner: He who loses today, he is lost.
    Farmers in front of a banner: He who loses today, he is lost.
  • Protesters and residents outside the polling place.
    Protesters and residents outside the polling place.
  • Wasn't one Dachau enough? Have they ever considered a disaster in Tubbergen: De Hemmer can tell them all about it from the camp.[8]
    Wasn't one Dachau enough? Have they ever considered a disaster in Tubbergen: De Hemmer can tell them all about it from the camp.[8]
  • Riot police officers and protesters outside the polling place.
    Riot police officers and protesters outside the polling place.
  • Riot police officers and an armored van outside the polling place.
    Riot police officers and an armored van outside the polling place.

See also

References

  1. ^ Blokzijl, Maarten; Veltman, Femke (8 May 2014). "Veldslag in Tubbergen" (in Dutch). Andere Tijden. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  2. ^ Goorhuis, Wim (12 December 2020). "Bijna 50 jaar na de boerenopstand in Tubbergen vechten dochters van verguisde burgemeester Schepers voor eerherstel". Tubantia (in Dutch). Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  3. ^ "Rapport in de maak over rel Tubbergen". Trouw (in Dutch). The Hague. 12 January 1972. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  4. ^ "Tubbergen verwerpt verkaveling". Trouw (in Dutch). Tubbergen. 27 March 1973. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  5. ^ "Tot Tubbig en niet verder". Boerenopstandtubbergen.nl. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  6. ^ Goorhuis, Wim (20 March 2021). "Laurens ten Den over de boerenopstand: 'Waarom is dat juist in Tubbergen gebeurd?'". Tubantia (in Dutch). Tubbergen. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  7. ^ Goorhuis, Wim (17 August 2021). "Nieuwe expositie over boerenopstand Tubbergen bevat stukken die tot nu toe vertrouwelijk waren". Tubantia (in Dutch). Tubbergen. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  8. ^ "Gerhardus Hemmer (Geesteren, 27 maart 1904 – Dachau, 10 februari 1945)" (in Dutch). Network of War Collections. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
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