Thousands protest peacefully on the eve of Dutch election

On the eve of the Netherlands' general election, some 2,000 people gathered in The Hague on Sunday to protest against the government and its tough coronavirus lockdown. /AFP

Police clashed with anti-government protesters in The Hague on Sunday ahead of three days of voting in the Dutch general election starting March 15. Crowds gathered to demonstrate against Prime Minister Mark Rutte, with some protesting against COVID-19 restrictions.

A heavy police presence ringed the park where the demonstrators gathered, and police tweeted before the scheduled start of the event that the maximum number of participants already had been reached. Hundreds more people arrived after the tweet.

Although the protest was generally peaceful, police tweeted that they arrested one man for attacking an officer with a stick.

Trains heading to The Hague were halted to prevent more people making their way to the city.

(With input from agencies)