The city of The Hague became the scene of protests and clashes with the Police on Friday after the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte, announced a partial closure to stop the spread of the coronavirus in the country.
The new restrictions establish, among other measures, advancing the closing time of non-essential stores until 6:00 p.m. and of hospitality premises until 8:00 p.m., as well as expanding the number of spaces in which it will be necessary to present the health pass to enter. The measures are expected to be in effect until at least December 4.
As Dutch PM announces strict new Covid measures, protests break out in the Hague Details: https://t.co/ydIyU2W6wYpic.twitter.com/haGmMLLcS6
— MRT (@MRT_com) November 12, 2021
The announcement was immediately met with loud protests from opponents of the new shutdown, who gathered in the streets of The Hague to express their rejection.
The Netherlands government threatens a third lockdown. The people have had enough and show up to protest.The Hague tonight 👇🏼 pic.twitter.com/TOvPcZlkgy
– Aaron Ginn (@aginnt) November 12, 2021
Recordings circulating on social media show hundreds of people – many of them without masks on – marching through the city with flags and banners.
Heavy fireworks, stones and a lot of aggression in combination with vandalism. #noise protestpic.twitter.com/fzx1AczR9h
— Owen O’Brien (@_owenobrien_) November 12, 2021
According communicated Police, security forces had to use water cannons after protesters refused to disperse.
📍Netherlands Huge Protest At The Hague In Response To New Lockdowns.Dutch police use water cannon on Covid protesters. pic.twitter.com/PUc680XcQu
– 👑 Dish (@ 1607 Dish) November 12, 2021
Several people were arrested by the explosion of fireworks, detailed from the Police, who described the situation as “agitated”.
Protests running late into the night in the Hague as Netherlands politicians proposed yet another lockdown! pic.twitter.com/AxIsW8H5DY
– 👑 Dish (@ 1607 Dish) November 12, 2021
I agree with you data of the World Health Organization, in the last day 16,364 new cases of covid-19 were registered in the Netherlands, bringing to 2,253,031 the total number of people infected in the country since the start of the pandemic.