World · Europe · 4 hrs ago
The Hague shops board up amid fears of possible protests and unrest
Shops in The Hague are boarding up ahead of possible protests on Saturday, as businesses prepare for the risk of unrest.
Calls to protest in several Dutch cities have circulated on Snapchat, Telegram and Instagram, but who is behind the calls is unclear.
The Hague municipality has not received an official protest notification, and it is not clear how many people might take part.
Some businesses have barricaded their windows, while the city’s Apple store has removed its phones and laptops.
The fears follow recent demonstrations in France, Belgium and Italy that led to widespread unrest and damage to shops.
The chair of a local shopkeepers’ association says several business owners received phone threats about their stores being looted.
Whether protests or unrest will happen remains uncertain, and shops hope their preparations will not be needed.
Some shops in The Hague have boarded up their premises ahead of possible youth protests on Saturday.
The calls for protests have circulated on Snapchat, Telegram and Instagram, but it is unclear who is behind them or how many people may attend.
The municipality said no protest had been registered, according to NOS.
Several businesses have taken precautions, and the city’s Apple Store removed its phones and laptops.
The chair of the local shopkeepers’ association said several businesses had received threats by phone.
- Who
- Shopkeepers in The Hague are preparing for possible youth protesters.
- What
- Some shops have boarded up their premises, and the Apple Store emptied its store.
- When
- Ahead of possible protests on Saturday, October 31, 2026.
- Where
- The Hague city centre, the Netherlands.
- Why
- Shopkeepers fear protests could lead to riots and looting after calls for demonstrations circulated on social media.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Calls circulated on Snapchat, Telegram and Instagram urging people to protest in several Dutch cities.
Shopkeepers in The Hague boarded up stores and took other precautions ahead of possible protests.
Youth protests were possible, though no protest had been registered with the municipality.
- Possible protest date
- Saturday, October 31, 2026
- Social media platforms
- Snapchat, Telegram and Instagram
- Businesses taking precautions
- Tommy Hilfiger, Lego, Guess and Kruidvat stores, among others
- Apple Store
- Removed its phones and laptops from the premises
- Threats
- Several shopkeepers were threatened by phone, according to the shopkeepers’ association chair
3 sources
What people are saying
It is something you do not expect in the Netherlands. It is un-Dutch.
If I were a shopkeeper here, I would say: better to spend a few thousand euros on preparation than end up with hundreds of thousands in damage and your shop looted.
They come through everything, but we are trying to hold them back.
Hopefully nothing happens tomorrow, but with social media things can move very fast.