2021 Dutch curfew riots
Part of the COVID-19 protests in Netherlands
A van set on fire during the riots in Rotterdam on 26 January 2021
Date (2021-01-23) (2021-01-26)23–26 January 2021[1]
Location
Netherlands
Caused by
Methods
Parties
Casualties
InjuriesAt least 12 (as of 27 Jan 2021)[8][9][10]
Arrested575+ (as of 27 Jan 2021)[11][12][13][14]
Related events

The 2021 Dutch curfew riots (Dutch: avondklokrellen) were a series of riots in the Netherlands that initiated as protests against the government's COVID-19 prevention measures and specifically the 21:00–4:30 curfew that was introduced on 23 January 2021. The police have described the riots as the worst in the country since the 1980 coronation riots.[4]

Background

The proposal to introduce a nationwide curfew to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) had been put on the table by the Outbreak Management Team (OMT) as early as September 2020, but did not gain the support of the House of Representatives at the time, because of its strong association with World War II.[15][16]

Four months later, however, the measure was deemed necessary as the number of infections was not declining fast enough, despite the fact that the Netherlands had been in a full lockdown since 14 December 2020.[17] Furthermore, the more transmissible B.1.1.7 variant of the virus continued to spread across the country, raising concerns for a potential "third wave" of infections.[18]

Demissionary Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced his plan to introduce a 20:30–4:30 curfew at a press conference on 20 January 2021.[19] On 21 January, a majority in the House of Representatives voted to support the proposal, after a motion to shorten the curfew to 21:00–4:30 had been adopted.[20] The curfew would be in effect from 23 January to at least 10 February 2021.[21] The curfew was lifted on April 28, 2021[22] and has not been reinstated since then.

Non-violent protests against the government's COVID-19 prevention measures had taken place on several occasions prior to the announcement of the curfew. However, on 24 January 2021, illegal demonstrations against the curfew in Amsterdam and Eindhoven escalated into violent riots in response to police interventions.[23][24] Calls to riot were subsequently spread on social media, leading to riots in other places as well.[2]

Timeline

23 January

During the first night of the curfew, the police issued 3,600 fines for being outside after 21:00 without a valid reason.[11] Anti-lockdown protesters gathered in Amersfoort, Rotterdam, IJmuiden and Stein to demonstrate.[26]

On Urk, a former island in the province of Flevoland, groups of youths began to riot in protest against the curfew. The rioters vandalised police cars, and threw stones and fireworks at police officers.[27] Later that evening, a COVID-19 testing site of the Municipal Health Service (GGD) was set on fire.[27] Two suspects have subsequently been arrested.[27]

24 January

On 24 January in the afternoon, hundreds of protesters gathered on Museumplein in Amsterdam, despite the fact that Mayor Femke Halsema, the chief police officer and the chief public prosecutor had prohibited the demonstration. The police used water cannons and police dogs to disperse the crowd, in response to which the protesters began throwing firework bombs towards police officers.[28]

Similarly, in Eindhoven, rioters – who had come to the city centre to protest against the lockdown measures – attacked the police by throwing stones, golf balls, fireworks and knives.[29] They also set vehicles on fire and looted a supermarket in the city's central station.[29] According to ProRail, hundreds of thousands of euros in damage was inflicted to the railway station.[30]

In the evening, riots also took place in Enschede, Helmond, Roermond, The Hague, Tilburg and Venlo.[31] In Enschede, rioters attempted to break the windows of the local hospital, Medisch Spectrum Twente.[32] More than 300 people were arrested.

25 January

150 people were arrested during the night from 25 to 26 January in Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Shops were looted and vandalized. The cities of Den Bosch, Zwolle, Amersfoort, Alkmaar, Hoorn, Gouda, Haarlem, and Veenendaal experienced troubles, including cars being burned and police attacked with stones.[33][34]

26 January

Den Bosch, Sittard-Geleen, Stein and Capelle aan den IJssel issued an emergency decree for the upcoming night. Beek and Echt-Susteren will have an emergency decree until the 10th of February, which will allow the police to do stop-and-frisk without reason.[35] Zwolle declared an emergency order, which is one step below an emergency decree in Dutch law. Dutch police designated Den Bosch, Almelo en Haarlem as potential hotspots. The Ikazia Hospital in Rotterdam also advised its patients not to come during the evening hours, as police designated the nearby Zuidplein as a potential hotspot.[36]

The riots that took place on 26 January were less heavy than the previous days. Despite some small riots in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Hilversum, and some disturbances in The Hague, Schijndel and Julianadorp, the situation in these six cities and villages was under control within about an hour.[37]

Many cities also saw massive support coming from their locals. Cities such as Maastricht, saw its hardcore fanbase of its local football club, the angel side, gather as a reaction to the threats made by supposed rioters. A couple hundred supporters marched through the city, eventually making their way to the city centre to make a statement: "we will not tolerate destruction and looting". Most of them went home around 21.00 to adhere to the curfew rules.

After 26 January

On 27 January, there were no major riots, only small disturbances in The Hague and Rotterdam. In Rotterdam a theatre was set on fire.[38]

Apart from a relatively large group of youths who were shooting fireworks in Tiel, there were no more riots or disturbances reported throughout the Netherlands as of 28 January.[39]

On 31 January, protests against the curfew were held in Amsterdam and Apeldoorn. There were no major riots, but dozens of people were arrested after the police had ended the demonstrations.[40]

Reactions

Demissionary Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, told reporters that the recent events "have nothing to do with protests, this is criminal violence and we will treat it as such".[41]

Minister of Finance Wopke Hoekstra said that the riots will not make the government "capitulate to a few idiots".[42] Minister of Justice and Security Ferdinand Grapperhaus said the same. "Apparently small groups find it necessary to riot. But that is not because of the corona policy, because you don't have to loot a shop for that", he said. Grapperhaus added that the police and Royal Marechaussee are cracking down on the rioters. They will be subject to summary judgment and can face unconditional prison sentences.[42]

MPs Geert Wilders and Jesse Klaver, of the Party for Freedom and GroenLinks respectively, accused each other of inciting the riots. Jesse Klaver accused Geert Wilders of inciting the people to riot, while Geert Wilders demanded Jesse Klaver to remove his party's rank and file from the Schilderswijk, a neighbourhood where the riots happened.[43]

The mayor of Eindhoven John Jorritsma gave a statement that: "If we continue down this way, we will head to civil war."[44]

The mayor of Rotterdam Ahmed Aboutaleb released a video in which he directly addressed the rioters. He asked if they felt proud to have destroyed their own hometown and promising them police will crack down on them. He went on to applaud the real heroes of the city's history, that rebuilt the city after the Rotterdam Blitz instead of destroying it. To the entrepreneurs whose establishments were damaged he promised to work together with insurance companies to support them.[45]

A spokesperson of the Dutch armed forces stated that the Royal Netherlands Army has not yet been asked to help curb the riots. However, if the armed forces are asked to help "it would be limited to logistical and material support".[46] Geert Wilders submitted a law proposal enabling the army to assist law enforcement; however, the proposal failed to receive any support aside from his own party, the PVV.[47]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Politie tevreden over relatief rustige avond: 'Grote escalaties voorkomen'". NOS (in Dutch). 26 January 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Dutch govt says rioters 'won't get away with it' after third night of unrest". France 24. 26 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  3. ↑ Kras, Jeannette (26 January 2021). "De drie groepen die aan het rellen zijn: "Nu konden ze even flink losgaan"". Welingelichte Kringen (in Dutch). Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  4. 1 2 Van Genechten, Sarah (26 January 2021). ""Ergste rellen in 40 jaar" in Nederland: wie zijn de relschoppers, wat drijft hen en hoe moet het nu verder?". VRT NWS (in Flemish). Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  5. ↑ "Toch een dingetje: de daders bij alle rellen zijn mannen, mannen zijn de daders". Trouw (in Dutch). 27 January 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  6. ↑ Dejong, Peter (24 January 2021). "Dutch Police Clash With Anti-Lockdown Protesters". Time. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 24 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  7. ↑ "Hulp voetbalfans en boeren gewaardeerd, 'maar handhaving is taak van politie'". NOS (in Dutch). 26 January 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  8. ↑ Hoekstra, Diede (25 January 2021). "Denisa kreeg een voltreffer van het waterkanon, schedelbreuk en 18 hechtingen". Eindhovens Dagblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  9. ↑ "Tien agenten in Rotterdam gewond geraakt, 184 aanhoudingen na coronarellen". NU.nl (in Dutch). 26 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  10. ↑ "Meisje gewond door baksteen die door raam van bus werd gegooid in Emmeloord". NOS (in Dutch). 27 January 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  11. 1 2 "3600 boetes en 25 aanhoudingen in de eerste nacht van de avondklok". Het Parool (in Dutch). 24 January 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  12. ↑ "Ruim 200 aanhoudingen bij coronaprotesten Eindhoven en Amsterdam". RTL Nieuws (in Dutch). 24 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  13. ↑ "184 mensen aangehouden bij rellen, 1741 boetes uitgedeeld". Nederlands Dagblad. 26 January 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  14. ↑ "Politie: avond en nacht waren rustiger, 131 arrestaties". NOS (in Dutch). 27 January 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  15. ↑ Hartog, Tobias den; Aa, Edwin van der (20 January 2021). "Hoe de avondklok tóch op tafel kwam: 'De wereld ziet er nu anders uit'". Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  16. ↑ "Zo reëel is een avondklok en dit kunnen we verwachten". RTL Nieuws (in Dutch). 13 January 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  17. ↑ Ajrovic, Semina; Uffelen, Xander van (5 January 2021). "Lockdown heeft geen positief effect op RIVM-cijfers". de Volkskrant (in Dutch). Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  18. ↑ Engels, Joep (21 January 2021). "Waarom het kabinet een avondklok wil, ondanks dalende besmettingen. 'Er komt een donkere wolk op ons af'". Trouw (in Dutch). Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  19. ↑ "Persconferentie coronavirus 20 januari in eenvoudige taal". Rijksoverheid (in Dutch). 20 January 2021. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  20. ↑ "Tweede Kamer akkoord met avondklok vanaf 21.00 uur". NRC (in Dutch). 21 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  21. ↑ "Vanaf zaterdag 23 januari geldt een avondklok". Rijksoverheid (in Dutch). 21 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  22. ↑ "Avondklok voor de laatste keer ingegaan" (in Dutch). 27 April 2021. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  23. ↑ "Politie grijpt hard in bij coronaprotesten in Eindhoven en Amsterdam". NOS (in Dutch). 24 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  24. ↑ Wiegman, Marcel (25 January 2021). "Waar komt deze ongekende geweldsexplosie vandaan?". Het Parool (in Dutch). Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  25. ↑ "Hier waren tot nu toe gewelddadigheden en plunderingen". NOS (in Dutch). 26 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  26. ↑ Ruiter, Paul (23 January 2021). "Politie deelt boetes uit voor overtreden avondklok; teststraat in lichterlaaie bij protest in Urk; 12 arrestaties in Stein". Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  27. 1 2 3 "Jongeren in Urk en Stein keren zich tegen politie en avondklok". de Volkskrant (in Dutch). 24 January 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  28. ↑ Beek, Hans van der (24 January 2021). "Iedereen op het Museumplein weet: dit wordt rellen. 'Niet mij slaan straks, hè'". Het Parool (in Dutch). Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  29. 1 2 Zwienen, Simone van (24 January 2021). "Binnenstad Eindhoven vernield door relschoppers, winkels geplunderd". Het Parool (in Dutch). Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  30. ↑ "Schade aan het station in Eindhoven loopt in de tonnen, herstel gaat lang duren". Omroep Brabant (in Dutch). 25 January 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  31. ↑ "Op meerdere plaatsen in Nederland rellen tegen avondklok". Leeuwarder Courant (in Dutch). 24 January 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  32. ↑ "Enschedees ziekenhuis aangevallen door relschoppers, politie in Eindhoven belaagd met messen". De Standaard (in Flemish). 25 January 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  33. ↑ "Burgemeester hekelt relschoppers Veenendaal: 'Geen enkele maatregel rechtvaardigt geweld'". De Gelderlander (in Dutch). 26 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  34. ↑ Henley, Jon (26 January 2021). "Netherlands shaken by third night of riots over Covid curfew". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  35. ↑ Horrichs, Sandra; Beaumont, Randy (26 January 2021). "Noodverordening in Beek na signalen over rellen". 1Limburg (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  36. ↑ "Politiechef: 'Relatief tevreden, veel rustiger dan maandag'". NU.nl (in Dutch). 26 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  37. ↑ "Politie tot nu toe tevreden: 'We zitten er kort bovenop'". NOS. 26 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  38. ↑ "Brand verwoest theater in Rotterdams Plaswijckpark, tiener aangehouden". NU.nl. 27 January 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  39. ↑ "Vier arrestaties in centrum van Tiel vanwege opruiing, zwaar vuurwerk afgestoken". De Gelderlander. 28 January 2021. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  40. ↑ "30 arrestaties bij demonstratie in Amsterdam, Museumplein leeggestroomd". AD.nl. 31 January 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  41. ↑ "Covid: Dutch PM Mark Rutte condemns curfew riots as 'criminal violence'". BBC News. 25 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  42. 1 2 "Grapperhaus: snelrecht tegen relschoppers, avondklok blijft". NOS (in Dutch). 26 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  43. ↑ Hartog, Tobias den (25 January 2021). "Klaver, Wilders, Segers en Baudet vliegen elkaar in de haren over rellen avondklok". Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  44. ↑ "Geëmotioneerde burgemeester Eindhoven: 'We zijn zo op weg naar burgeroorlog'". NOS (in Dutch). 25 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  45. ↑ "Burgemeester Aboutaleb spreekt relschoppers toe". YouTube.
  46. ↑ "Leger nog niet gevraagd op te treden: 'Zijn ook niet opgeleid voor de-escalatie'". NU.nl (in Dutch). 26 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  47. ↑ "Motie van het lid Wilders over het inzetten van het leger bij grootschalige rellen". www.tweedekamer.nl (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 14 February 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
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