Hundreds violate ban to protest COVID restrictions in Netherlands

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands

Hundreds of people gathered Sunday in the Netherlands to protest the government’s COVID-19 lockdown and vaccination policies despite a ban on demonstrations.

The protest in the capital Amsterdam’s Museum Square was organized by the group Samen voor Nederland (Together for the Netherlands).

Protestors chanted slogans such as "No to fascism" and "No to dictatorship."

They held banners reading "We don't have to give consent," "Stop controlling the Earth," and "Government is the people's number one enemy."

Police officers worked to clear the crowd from the square as local officials had outlawed the protest.

During the latest wave of coronavirus infections, the Amsterdam municipality previously designated the area a security risk region.

The protests, which saw extensive security measures, ended after the Dutch police told the crowd to disperse.

*Writing by Zehra Nur Duz