Skip to main content
Home

Main navigation

  • Top stories
  • Health
  • Crime
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Weird
  • 1-1-2
Image
Arrest on the street
Arrest on the street - Credit: Politie / Politie - License: All Rights Reserved
Crime
curfew
riot
Coronavirus
lockdown
police
arrests
Willem Woelders
Monday, 25 January 2021 - 14:00
Share this:
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
  • reddit

Some 250 arrested in anti-curfew riots, most in Amsterdam

The police arrested around 250 people in riots against the coronavirus measures on Sunday. Most of the arrests were made in Amsterdam, Willem Woelders of the National police said to NPO Radio 1, stressing that these are only preliminary figures.

The police were expecting unrest after the implementation of the Netherlands' first curfew since the Second World War, and had the Koninklijke Marechaussee for backup. But they were still surprised by the massive number of people who took to the streets, Woelders said. "I did not expect it to burn so violently in all cities."

He called it unprecedented for there to be so many disturbances in so many parts of the country at the same time, with riots reported in around a dozen municipalities. According to Woelders, there were small groups among the protesters who were out for violence against the police. Police officers recognized a number of football hooligans, he said.

The Amsterdam police reported 190 arrests on Monday morning. Their Eindhoven colleagues reported 62 arrests, after Woelders spoke to the radio station.

Prime Minister Mark Rutte condemned the riots, calling them "criminal violence" that had "nothing to do with the fight for freedom". "You really have to wonder what were these people thinking? The only fight we have to fight is to beat the virus."

He stressed that violence will change nothing about the measures in place against the coronavirus. "The curfew remains necessary. It is the virus that is robbing us of our freedom."

Follow us:

Latest stories

  • Ajax beat NEC (1-2) and climbs to eight
  • Think tank: CO2 storage by corporate lobbies is not in line with science
  • Major damage to Amsterdam apartment complex due to explosion
  • Climate summit: Oil companies such as Shell and Aramco want to reduce CO2 emissions
  • Achmea wants to reduce emissions from insured cars
  • Russian research ships used for espionage purposes sighted off the Dutch coast

Top stories

  • Russian research ships used for espionage purposes sighted off the Dutch coast
  • Three people, including two children, killed in car accident on the A1
  • Red Cross called in to help with reception of asylum seekers in Ter Apel
  • Recount in Tilburg leads to no change in election results
  • Code Orange weather alert for black ice in Noord- and Zuid-Holland on Saturday & Sunday
  • Recount of votes in Tilburg is in full swing

© 2012-2023, NL Times, All rights reserved.

Footer menu

  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Partner content