OTTERLO, Netherlands (AP) – Police in Amsterdam aimed a water cannon at hundreds of protesters participating in a banned protest on Sunday against the Dutch government and its strict coronavirus blockade.
Police on horseback also moved to stop the demonstration in a large square surrounded by museums, including the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum.
The municipality of Amsterdam said the riot police acted to disperse the crowd because people were not adhering to measures of social distance.
“Because of the danger to public health, it is important that everyone follows the measures in force. The protesters are not doing this, ”said the municipality in a tweet.
By mid-afternoon, the square was empty, except for dozens of police, although some protesters remained in the streets nearby.
The demonstration was banned earlier this week for fear that many people would attend and not be limited to social detachment.
The protest in Amsterdam took place while ministers from the Netherlands’ interim government met in The Hague to discuss options to curb the spread of the coronavirus, including the possibility of imposing a curfew for the first time since the pandemic began.
The government resigned on Friday following the publication of a hard-hitting report on a scandal involving thousands of parents being falsely labeled fraudsters by tax authorities, but ministers remain in power until a new coalition is formed after the general elections of 17 December. March.