The Amsterdam triangle (mayor, public prosecutor and police) has ordered the right-wing “Netherlands in Revolt” demonstration to be held on Museumplein on Sunday and designated Museumplein and the surrounding area a security risk area, allowing police to search everyone in that zone.
The municipality said the relocation is necessary because of “high-risk events” in the city and the presence of many football supporters ahead of the Dutch national team’s World Cup qualifier against Finland in the Johan Cruijff ArenA on Sunday.
Security rationale and measures
The triangle said the risk of unsafe situations is “too great.” “Especially if there is a chance of counter-demonstrations and disorder,” the authorities added.
As a security risk area, police will have authority to stop and search people within Museumplein and adjacent streets. The decision aims to limit crowds around Dam Square and reduce inconvenience to business owners, local residents and shoppers.
The “Netherlands in Revolt” protest, described by its organisers as a demonstration against immigration, is scheduled to begin at 13:00 on Museumplein. A march is planned from 14:30 to 16:00 and will end back at Museumplein. The organisation calls for “a dignified, peaceful and powerful statement.”
The move follows a late-September protest in The Hague over asylum policy that “got completely out of hand,” during which demonstrators entered the A12 motorway, vandalised the D66 party office and attacked the police. Several officers were injured.
