Five protesters released after Amsterdam demonstration arrests

Five people who were arrested on Saturday at Amsterdam's Dam Square have been released, the police confirmed. A police spokesperson stated that the individuals remain suspects, and the Public Prosecution Service (OM) will determine whether further action is necessary.

Three of the individuals were detained for disrupting public order and failing to comply with an official order. Two others were arrested earlier for attempting to protest in a location where demonstrations were not permitted. One of them was Edwin Wagensveld, leader of the far-right group Pegida. Wagensveld called the arrest “absurd” on social media platform X, though he has yet to provide further comment. Wagensveld was reportedly involved in a car accident on his way home, in which his car was totaled and towed away.

Originally, a pro-Palestinian protest was planned for the Dam, but the City of Amsterdam prohibited it, citing safety concerns due to the busy shopping day. The mayor and police deemed it too risky to hold such an event on the Dam on one of the year’s busiest days. The organizers took the matter to court, but on Friday, the court sided with the city, confirming the ban.

As a result, the demonstration took place at the Stopera, after which protesters marched to Museum Square. During the march, a woman was arrested after she was found carrying a knife and a sign that read “ACAB,” an acronym for "All Cops Are Bastards." She has also been released, but the OM will make a decision on whether to pursue charges.