Amsterdam Protest: Demonstrators relocated by bus amid dozens of arrests

A group of demonstrators gathered on the Prinsengracht canal faced significant police intervention on Sunday afternoon, leading to their relocation by bus and at least dozens of arrests. The protest, which initially formed in the city center, escalated as authorities moved to disperse the crowd to prevent public disruption along the busy waterway. Eyewitnesses reported tense standoffs between protesters and riot police, with initial clashes prompting the deployment of water cannons and tear gas to control the situation.

Police actions intensified around midday when the group refused to comply with dispersal orders, resulting in multiple scuffles and the apprehension of individuals suspected of public disorder and resisting arrest. By early evening, the bulk of the demonstrators, estimated at several hundred, were loaded onto police buses and transported to holding areas outside the city center for further processing. Officials confirmed that 47 people were detained in total, with charges ranging from illegal assembly to minor assaults on officers. No serious injuries were reported, though medical teams attended to a handful of cases involving minor irritant exposure.

City authorities emphasized the operation’s success in maintaining public safety, with Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema issuing a statement praising the restrained yet firm response from law enforcement. Protester representatives decried the “excessive force,” calling for the immediate release of those held. The incident has sparked online debates about protest rights in the Dutch capital, as investigations continue into the event’s organization and any underlying motivations. Updates are expected as more details emerge from ongoing interrogations.