Court bans Amsterdam enforcers' strike on King's Day

A strike organized by two enforcement officers' unions in Amsterdam on King's Day will not happen, the court in Amsterdam ruled on Friday. The municipality filed summary proceedings on Tuesday to prevent the strike, NU.nl reports.

The Amsterdam enforcers planned to strike between 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. on Saturday - around the tie that they normally have to guide crowds out of the city after the King's Day parties. The municipality found that King's Day is not the appropriate time for the strike, as it is one of the busiest days in the year for the city. Mayor Femke Halsema feared that a strike would lead to unsafe situations.

The enforcers' unions wanted to use the strike to force the municipality to give enforcement officers better equipment to defend themselves against aggression. Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema already agreed to equip enforcement officers with bodycams, but the enforcers also want a baton, handcuffs and pepper spray. Both Halsema and the police previously said they were against arming enforcers.