Tempers flared in the Netherlands as a right-wing demonstration descended into violence this past Saturday, just weeks before the nation holds its general election. Protesters clashed with police, resulting in chaos that saw a political party's office vandalized.

Law enforcement responded aggressively, employing tear gas and a water cannon to disperse crowds that hurled projectiles and even set a police car ablaze. While there were no immediate reports of injuries or arrests, Dutch media coverage revealed that protesters specifically targeted the office of the centrist D66 party.

The demonstration featured around 1,500 anti-immigration activists who effectively blocked the A12, a vital highway linking The Hague to Germany's border, causing significant disruption.

Rob Jetten, leader of the D66 party, spoke out against the violence via social media, stating, "Scum. Keep your hands off political parties. If you think you can intimidate us, tough luck. Extremist rioters will not take our beautiful country away from us."

Jetten condemned the use of the Netherlands flag adorned with an orange stripe—an emblem associated with the pre-war Dutch Nazi party—as a shocking misrepresentation of national sentiment. He declared, "This has nothing to do with the Netherlands. It’s pure intimidation. We must not let the loudmouths win; we need to focus on building a better country."

A smaller faction of rioters attempted to breach the fenced-off Dutch parliament complex, under renovation and largely deserted, but police quickly intervened.

The demonstration that sparked this unrest called for stricter asylum policies and was attended by hundreds of individuals clad in black and brandishing flags.

Caretaker Prime Minister Dick Schoof expressed his outrage at the events on social media, labeling the violence as "shocking and bizarre," and condemned the attacks on both the police and the D66 office as "completely unacceptable." He expressed confidence that authorities would bring those responsible to justice.

This turmoil comes just weeks ahead of a general election on October 29, triggered by anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders' decision to withdraw his party from the ruling coalition over disagreements surrounding immigration policy. Wilders denounced the rioters, referring to them as "idiots" and "scum" for their disruptive actions.