'Protest by Dutch Youths Dissatisfied with Lockdown Orders... Hundreds Arrested by Police'

Dutch police are inspecting vehicles that violated the lockdown order in the capital city Amsterdam on the 23rd (local time). The Dutch government strengthened the lockdown order from this day, prohibiting movement from 9 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. the next day. [Image source= AP·Yonhap]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] According to the Associated Press on the 24th (local time), young people dissatisfied with the strict lockdown measures held protests in major cities in the Netherlands last weekend, clashing with the police.

Hundreds of young protesters were arrested in the capital Amsterdam and Eindhoven on that day.

In Eindhoven, hundreds of young people set fires during the protests. The police responded with tear gas and water cannons, arresting at least 55 people.

Protests also took place in the capital Amsterdam, where more than 100 young people were arrested. On YouTube, videos can be seen of police dispersing protesters by firing water cannons at the walls of the Van Gogh Museum.

The AP reported that these were the most intense protests since the COVID-19 pandemic. It also added that protests have continued for two consecutive weeks, and anti-immigrant groups appear to have joined the protesters.

Dutch media reported that unrest protesting the lockdown orders occurred in cities other than Amsterdam and Eindhoven. In Urk, located 80 km southeast of Amsterdam, an arson incident occurred at a COVID-19 testing site.

The Dutch government issued lockdown orders in mid-last month and strengthened the curfew from the 23rd. Accordingly, movement is prohibited from 9 a.m. to 4:30 a.m. the next day.

The police stated that more than 3,600 people nationwide have been fined for violating the lockdown orders. They also reported that 25 people have been arrested for breaking the lockdown orders.

The police declared that they will take a tough stance, saying protests against the lockdown measures will not be tolerated. The Dutch Minister of Justice also strongly condemned the protesters, calling it "nothing but criminal behavior."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.