Riot police with batons and shields broke up a crowd of several thousand who had gathered in Amsterdam on Sunday (2 January) to protest against COVID-19 lockdown measures and vaccinations.
Public gatherings of more than two people are prohibited under restrictions imposed by the Netherlands in an effort to prevent the Omicron variant of the coronavirus overwhelming an already strained healthcare system.
At least 30 people were detained after scuffles, during which four officers were injured, police said in a statement.
Riot police in Amsterdam violently shut down an anti-lockdown protest today after leftist mayor Femke Halsema triggered an emergency order to stop the march. The Netherlands has been in Covid lockdown & gatherings of more than 2 are illegal. pic.twitter.com/AphZew85LI
— Andy Ngô ?️? (@MrAndyNgo) January 2, 2022
Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema had issued an emergency ordinance, empowering police to clear the central Museum Square, after the protesters defied a ban on public gatherings.
The protesters, who mostly did not wear masks or abide by social distancing rules, ignored an order not to hold a march and walked along a main thoroughfare, playing music and holding yellow umbrellas in a sign of opposition to government measures.
The Netherlands went into a sudden lockdown on 19 December, with the government ordering the closure of all but essential stores, as well as restaurants, hairdressers, gyms, museums and other public places until at least 14 January.
Belgian media reported that many thousands of Dutch crossed the borders for Christmas and New Year shopping in the neighbouring country which remained free of major restrictions.
Dutch flock to Belgium to escape holiday lockdownhttps://t.co/aAnJv0FUb1
— eNCA (@eNCA) January 2, 2022
Source: euractiv.com
