Nitrogen crisis in the Netherlands

Ammonia is released into the air from animal manure, nitrogen oxides are emitted by internal combustion engines, such as those in motor vehicles, aircraft and industry.

The presence of nitrogen compounds in large quantities is a form of nutrient pollution and adversely affects the quality of soil, water, air, and nature through the process of eutrophication.

In May 2017, the Council of State submitted a number of preliminary questions to the European Court of Justice,[5] which in November 2018 provided a further explanation of the relevant provisions of the Habitats Directive.

[7] Although nitrogen pollution had been an issue for many years, the Council of State's ruling promptly suspended an estimated 18,000 construction projects.

[8] In June 2020, the Advisory Committee on the Nitrogen Problem under former Deputy Prime Minister Johan Remkes published a report titled Niet alles kan overal ("Not Everything Is Possible Everywhere")[9] which recommended reducing nationwide emissions of NH3 and NOx by 50% compared to 2019, for a long-term solution (up to 2030).

[10][11][12] In response to these protests, the agrarian and right-wing populist political party Farmer–Citizen Movement (Dutch: BoerBurgerBeweging, BBB) was founded in October 2019.

In the 2021 general election, it argued for the creation of a "Ministry of the Countryside" (Dutch: ministerie van Platteland) located at least 100 kilometers from The Hague[13] and a removal of the ban on neonicotinoids.