Amsterdam police arrest 30 around Ajax's Europa League finals loss
The Amsterdam police arrested a total of 30 people during and after the public viewing of the Europa League finals on the Museuplein on Wednesday night. After Ajax lost the title to Manchester United (2-0), the Dutch capital quickly and calmly ran empty, ANP reports.
Arrests were made for public intoxication, insults and setting a parasol on fire, among other things. One police officer was assaulted. "For us this is really an ordinary very busy Saturday night", the police said around midnight. By 1:00 a.m. Amsterdam was mostly empty and quiet, according to the news wire.
An estimated 120 thousand football supporters watched the match in Amsterdam. Ajax fans started leaving the Museumplein 10 minutes before the final whistle blew. Other busy spots around the city, like the Leidseplein and Rembrandtplein, also quickly ran empty. After the match was over, there was loud applaus for the Amsterdam footballers. Then fans left en masse.
Heading home, fans were faced with massively overcrowded trains and chaos on train stations. The police were deployed to help keep order. Here too there were no major disturbances, according to ANP.
The Amsterdam municipality pressed fans to keep cool heads, despite Ajax's defeat. "Think of our beautiful city as you found it. Leave it the same way."
https://twitter.com/PerryVermeulen/status/867625913646755842
What a crowd! #vangoghmuseum #ajaxmanchesterunited #ajaxamsterdam #ajax #museumplein #vangogh #amsterdam #rijksmuseum #uelfinal pic.twitter.com/FKSyx52HHl
— Erik (@Ilove_vangogh) May 24, 2017