Youths torched a Dutch Covid testing centre and an effigy of the Danish Prime Minister was set alight in fiery anti-lockdown protests sweeping across Europe.
The testing facility in the village of Urk in the Netherlands went up in flames on Saturday night with its burnt-out shell remaining cordoned off on Sunday.
Meanwhile, in Copenhagen, Denmark, an effigy of Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was set on fire in as anti-lockdown sentiment erupts across the continent.
The Netherlands appeared to be bearing the brunt of the unrest on Sunday as authorities use water cannons and dogs to quell demonstrations in Amsterdam.
Hundreds of protesters gathered to demonstrate against a curfew that began on Saturday.
In Eindhoven in the country’s south, police fired tear gas to disperse a crowd of several hundred protesters while a number of vehicles were burned and businesses at the city’s central train station looted, local media reports.
Youths torched a Dutch Covid testing centre (pictured) and an effigy of the Danish PM was set alight in fiery anti-lockdown protests sweeping across Europe
The testing facility in the village of Urk in the Netherlands went up in flames on Saturday night (pictured) with its burnt-out shell remaining cordoned off on Sunday
Meanwhile, in Copenhagen, Denmark, an effigy of Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (pictured) was set on fire in as anti-lockdown sentiment erupts across the continent
Locals in Urk turned against the police en masse after curfew on Saturday night. Pictured: Police standing off against demonstrators
Police confirmed there were at least 30 arrests.
Authorities also confirmed there was a fire at a Covid-19 testing centre in the village of Urk in the north of the country on Saturday evening.
‘The fire in a screening centre in Urk goes beyond all limits,’ Health Minister Hugo de Jonge said on Sunday.
The 9pm to 4.30am curfew is the country’s first since World War II, with Prime Minister Mark Rutte saying it is needed to bring down virus case numbers.
People who break the curfew face a 95 Euro (£84.54) fine.
Exemptions are possible, in particular for people returning from funerals or those having to work, but they present a certificate.
Demonstrators march with a banner reading ‘black-clad resistance’ during a protest march organised by radical anti-lockdown group ‘Men in Black Denmark’ on Saturday night
Authorities also confirmed there was a fire at a Covid-19 testing centre in the village of Urk in the north of the country on Saturday evening. Pictured: The burnt-out remnants on Sunday
‘The fire in a screening centre in Urk (pictured) goes beyond all limits,’ Health Minister Hugo de Jonge said on Sunday
Rutte also announced on Wednesday a ban on flights from Britain, South Africa and South America, and a cut in the number of guests allowed in people’s homes to one, from the previous limit of two.
New variants of the virus have led to deep concern in Europe, particularly a more infectious strain that first emerged in Britain.
The Netherlands was already under its toughest measures since the start of the pandemic, with bars and restaurants having closed in October, and schools and non-essential shops shut since December.
Dutch lawmakers on Thursday approved Rutte’s curfew plan, though on condition that it begin half an hour later than the original 8.30pm start time.
The Netherlands appeared to be bearing the brunt of the unrest on Sunday as authorities use water cannons and dogs to quell demonstrations in Amsterdam. Pictured: Locals stand off against the police in Urk on Saturday night
Meanwhile in Denmark, an effigy representing Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (pictured) with a sign around its neck reading ‘she must be put down’ was set alight in Copenhagen during demonstrations there
A march in Copenhagen (the effigy, pictured) was organised by a radical group called ‘Men in Black Denmark’ who are protesting restrictions introduced by the Danish Government during the pandemic
Hundreds of protesters gathered to demonstrate against a curfew that began on Saturday in Amsterdam. In Urk in the Netherlands, demonstrators set a testing centre on fire
The 9pm to 4.30am curfew is the country’s first since World War II, with Prime Minister Mark Rutte saying it is needed to bring down virus case numbers. Pictured: The burnt-out remnants of Saturday night’s fire
The move had faced criticism led by far-right politician Geert Wilders, who called it ‘careless’ and ‘disproportionate’.
‘I stand here for freedom. I lost it myself,’ said Wilders, who has for years been under round-the-clock security after receiving death threats.
‘I do not accept that we unnecessarily… introduce curfews while there are alternatives.’
Rutte and his cabinet resigned on January 22 over a scandal involving child tax benefits, but they will continue to govern until elections in mid-March.
Meanwhile in Denmark, an effigy representing Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen with a sign around its neck reading ‘she must be put down’ was set alight in Copenhagen during demonstrations there.
A march was organised by a radical group called ‘Men in Black Denmark’ who are protesting restrictions introduced by the Danish Government during the pandemic.
Local authorities confirmed there were five arrests.
Demonstrations are also understood to have erupted in Spain over the weekend.