Many Amsterdam areas considered high-risk ahead of Ajax-Maccabi Tel Aviv football match

Certain sections of Amsterdam are going to be assigned as safety risk areas on Thursday in anticipation of the UEFA Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv. The areas are the Dam, De Wallen including the Red Light District, Central Station, and the area around the Johan Cruijff ArenA, plus the subway line that is in between these areas. The decision was made by Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema, along with the head of the district police department and prosecution service.

Police can stop and search any people in these areas between 1 p.m. and midnight while searching for things like fireworks.

In addition, a previously announced pro-Palestine demonstration will be moved from the Johan Cruijff ArenA to the Anton de Komplein in Amsterdam-Zuidoost. Demonstrators under the collective name of Week 4 Palestine announced their intention to protest near the entrance to the stadium on Thursday night against the Israeli club’s arrival.

The F-side, the hooligan supporters group of Ajax, responded by saying that they would not tolerate the protest and "will intervene where necessary".

Protests cannot be banned by the Amsterdam leadership due to the right to demonstrate, but they can move it if a certain location would result in a risk to public order and safety. Due to the F-Side’s announcement, the mayor, police and prosecutors said they cannot rule out the possibility of “violent confrontations.”

It will be very busy in the area surrounding the ArenA. In addition to the 56,000 football supporters going to the match, there are also concertgoers expected at the nearby AFAS Live hall, and it is the evening for late-night shopping.

“These circumstances make it impossible for the police to facilitate and protect a demonstration by the main entrance of the Johan Cruijff ArenA when there are so many visitors near the stadium.”

The measures are meant to ensure "a safe course of the match and the safety of visitors and supporters in the busy city center and the busy ArenA area," according to a joint statement from Halsema, the police and Public Prosecution Service.