Betuwelijn Debate Continues...

It took two full days, 550 heavy-duty policemen and cost around 3 million guilders (1.4 million Euro), but eventually around 80 Dutch EarthFirst! (GroenFront!) activists were evicted from the eight squatted houses that blocked the way for one of the most expensive and prestigious transport projects in the Netherlands: the Betuwelijn. This rail freight line from the Rotterdam harbour to the German ‘hinterland’ is one of the fourteen priority projects of TENs, the Trans European Networks. The Betuwelijn which will ruin beautiful scenery and many small villages and houses along the 130 km route, has been heavily criticised by all parties, including economists, scientists, local and national politicians, road hauliers, freight shippers and environmental activists.

The question is what will happen next. Possibly the Betuwelijn debate gets a new impulse because of the recent actions, but many more are likely needed in the nearby future. GroenFront! has promised to keep on doing actions until the last rail is put into place.

More info: groenfr@dds.nl or tel: +31-6- 26200729