Journalists in the Netherlands experienced more incidents in 2024, with reports rising to 249, according to PersVeilig. This marks an increase from 218 incidents in 2023 and 198 in 2022, which was a decrease from 271 in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Incidents, particularly around demonstrations and riots, involved threats, intimidation, or physical violence, occurring nearly three times more often than the previous year (43 compared to 15 times). Journalists were especially targeted during pro-Palestine riots in Amsterdam, largely contributing to the overall increase, as noted by PersVeilig.
The most common issues faced were threats (99 times), discrimination or intimidation (72 times), and physical violence (56 times). Notably, physical attacks rose from 29 in 2023 to 56 last year, with 31 reports involving assault.
Discrimination or intimidation was reported 72 times, up from 42 in 2023, while threats declined from 125 to 99. Verbal aggression occurred 68 times, while 46 incidents involved social media.
PersVeilig, a collaboration of the NVJ journalists’ union and the Dutch Society of Editors-in-Chief with police and justice authorities, aims to protect journalists from violence and aggression. For instance, no issues were reported during the Sunneklaas festival on Ameland after violent incidents in 2023, where journalists were attacked while covering an alternative Sinterklaas celebration.
Source: NOS