A day ahead of the general elections, violent clashes broke out in the Dutch city of Hague of Sunday as police fired water cannons at <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/anti-curfew-demonstrations-erupt-in-netherlands-as-europe-battles-virus-359222">anti-curfew</a> demonstrations.

Authorities used batons to disperse the crowd of anti-lockdown protesters gathered at a city park. The demonstration was broken up after the protesters flouted social distancing rules and ignored repeated police warnings to disperse.

Riot police with shields, batons and dogs moved in after some of the protesters refused to leave. A warning shot was also fired at one point after protesters kicked a police dog and threatened its handler.

According to reports, several protesters have been arrested for breaching COVID-19 protocols and violating public order. The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/protesters-in-netherlands-clash-with-police-for-third-consecutive-day-over-coronavirus-curfew-359503">Netherlands</a> has been under tough lockdown since late January, with gatherings of more than two people prohibited to stem the virus outbreak with restaurants and bars shut.

The country imposed night-time curfew for the first since World War-II amid the pandemic leading to large scale protests. Train services to Hague were also halted to prevent more protesters from making their way to the city as the Netherlands begins three-day voting from today.

Polling has been spaced over three days to ensure social distancing and allow COVID-19 vulnerable people a chance to vote early. The election will give a verdict on Rutte's handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

A day ahead of the general elections, violent clashes broke out in the Dutch city of Hague of Sunday as police fired water cannons at anti-curfew demonstrations.

A day ahead of the general elections, violent clashes broke out in the Dutch city of Hague of Sunday as police fired water cannons at anti-curfew demonstrations. Authorities used batons to disperse the crowd of anti-lockdown protesters gathered at a city park. The demonstration was broken up after the protesters flouted social distancing rules and ignored repeated police warnings to disperse. Riot police with shields, batons and dogs moved in after some of the protesters refused to leave. A warning shot was also fired at one point after protesters kicked a police dog and threatened its handler. According to reports, several protesters have been arrested for breaching COVID-19 protocols and violating public order. The Netherlands has been under tough lockdown since late January, with gatherings of more than two people prohibited to stem the virus outbreak with restaurants and bars shut. The country imposed night-time curfew for the first since World War-II amid the pandemic leading to large scale protests. Train services to Hague were also halted to prevent more protesters from making their way to the city as the Netherlands begins three-day voting from today. Polling has been spaced over three days to ensure social distancing and allow COVID-19 vulnerable people a chance to vote early. The election will give a verdict on Rutte's handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

Clashes erupt in Netherlands over coronavirus restrictions

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/anti-curfew-demonstrations-erupt-in-netherlands-as-europe-battles-virus-359222">Netherlands</a> witnessed the third day of rioting over coronavirus curfew as the government said it will not back down to rioters.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/netherlands-anti-curfew-protests-spark-clashes-with-police-359213/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Protesters in&nbsp;Geleen&nbsp;town&nbsp;came out on the streets against strict night-time curfew amid the lockdown as clashes erupted&nbsp;with police. The demonstrators had earlier attacked police over the weekend.

The curfew was imposed after the National Institute for Health (RIVM) warned about a new wave of infections due to the "British variant" of COVID-19 as 4,129 new COVID-19 cases were reported on Monday.

Finance minister Wopke Hoekstra said that those responsible for the riots were not legitimate protesters. Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte had called the riots "unacceptable" as protesters rampaged through cities on Monday.

Riot police had clashed with demonstrators in Amsterdam and Rotterdam as protesters smashed shop windows even as the police deployed water cannon.

The riots spread to several cities including Amersfoort, The Hague and Den Bosch. Reports said police had arrested around 250 people after using water cannon and tear gas during demonstrations in Amsterdam, Eindhoven and other towns.

&nbsp;The country has witnessed the first curfew since World War II which took effect late on Saturday. The curfew has been set for &nbsp;9 pm to 4:30 am and is set to last until at least February 10.&nbsp;

&nbsp;The country has recorded 952,950 <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-zealand-may-keep-its-borders-closed-for-much-of-2021-amid-pandemic-359474">coronavirus</a> infections with 13,579 deaths so far.

The Netherlands witnessed the third day of rioting over coronavirus curfew as the government said it will not back down to rioters. Watch: Protesters in Geleen town came out on the streets against strict night-time curfew amid the lockdown as clashes erupted with police.

The Netherlands witnessed the third day of rioting over coronavirus curfew as the government said it will not back down to rioters. Watch: Protesters in Geleen town came out on the streets against strict night-time curfew amid the lockdown as clashes erupted with police. The demonstrators had earlier attacked police over the weekend. The curfew was imposed after the National Institute for Health (RIVM) warned about a new wave of infections due to the "British variant" of COVID-19 as 4,129 new COVID-19 cases were reported on Monday. Finance minister Wopke Hoekstra said that those responsible for the riots were not legitimate protesters. Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte had called the riots "unacceptable" as protesters rampaged through cities on Monday. Riot police had clashed with demonstrators in Amsterdam and Rotterdam as protesters smashed shop windows even as the police deployed water cannon. The riots spread to several cities including Amersfoort, The Hague and Den Bosch. Reports said police had arrested around 250 people after using water cannon and tear gas during demonstrations in Amsterdam, Eindhoven and other towns. The country has witnessed the first curfew since World War II which took effect late on Saturday. The curfew has been set for 9 pm to 4:30 am and is set to last until at least February 10. The country has recorded 952,950 coronavirus infections with 13,579 deaths so far.

Protesters in Netherlands clash with police for third consecutive day over coronavirus curfew

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/netherlands-begins-flight-ban-first-curfew-since-world-war-ii-358933">Netherlands</a> witnessed anti-curfew demonstrations clashes as Europe continues to impose restrictions amid a surge in coronavirus cases.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/netherlands-anti-curfew-protests-spark-clashes-with-police-359213/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Dutch police used water cannons, dogs and mounted police to disperse the protesters who were throwing stones at the city's museum square even as close to hundred protesters were detained for resorting to violent means including throwing fireworks and 3,600 people were fined for breaching curfew. &nbsp;

Amid the escalation in violence, Mayor Femke Halsema designated the square as a "high-risk zone" and gave police the power to pre-emptively frisk people for weapons.

A COVID-19 testing centre was also set on fire in the village of Urk in north Netherlands. A number of vehicles were set ablaze and businesses were looted at Eindhoven's central train station as the unrest erupted a day after the curfew was imposed.

The curfew which is largely intended to target the new COVID-19 variant is one of the toughest moves yet implemented by the Dutch government. Under the new rules, only people with pressing needs including key workers and those with medical emergencies will be allowed to leave their homes between 9:00pm and 4:30 am.

In Denmark, &nbsp;two men were arrested on Saturday for burning the effigy of PM Mette Frederiksen during an anti-restriction protest as thousands protested in<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/spanish-woman-who-died-of-coronavirus-returns-home-after-10-days-359139"> Madrid</a>.

Meanwhile, France introduced a requirement for incoming travellers from EU &nbsp;to show a recent negative coronavirus test even as Sweden said it will prohibit entry of travellers from Norway for three weeks amid a surge in cases.

As the number of cases continues to rise, British drugmaker AstraZeneca said it will deliver 3 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine in February. German health minister Jens Spahn said that the government is committed to its goal of vaccinating all citizens older than 80 years by the end of March.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/germany-orders-coronavirus-drugs-that-cured-donald-trump-358977">Germany</a> had crossed 50,000 coronavirus deaths since the start of the pandemic last Friday.

The Netherlands witnessed anti-curfew demonstrations clashes as Europe continues to impose restrictions amid a surge in coronavirus cases. Watch: Dutch police used water cannons, dogs and mounted police to disperse the protesters who were throwing stones at the city's museum square even as close to hundred protesters were detained for resorting to violent means including throwing fireworks and 3,600 people were fined for breaching curfew.

The Netherlands witnessed anti-curfew demonstrations clashes as Europe continues to impose restrictions amid a surge in coronavirus cases. Watch: Dutch police used water cannons, dogs and mounted police to disperse the protesters who were throwing stones at the city's museum square even as close to hundred protesters were detained for resorting to violent means including throwing fireworks and 3,600 people were fined for breaching curfew. Amid the escalation in violence, Mayor Femke Halsema designated the square as a "high-risk zone" and gave police the power to pre-emptively frisk people for weapons. A COVID-19 testing centre was also set on fire in the village of Urk in north Netherlands. A number of vehicles were set ablaze and businesses were looted at Eindhoven's central train station as the unrest erupted a day after the curfew was imposed. The curfew which is largely intended to target the new COVID-19 variant is one of the toughest moves yet implemented by the Dutch government. Under the new rules, only people with pressing needs including key workers and those with medical emergencies will be allowed to leave their homes between 9:00pm and 4:30 am. In Denmark, two men were arrested on Saturday for burning the effigy of PM Mette Frederiksen during an anti-restriction protest as thousands protested in Madrid. Meanwhile, France introduced a requirement for incoming travellers from EU to show a recent negative coronavirus test even as Sweden said it will prohibit entry of travellers from Norway for three weeks amid a surge in cases. As the number of cases continues to rise, British drugmaker AstraZeneca said it will deliver 3 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine in February. German health minister Jens Spahn said that the government is committed to its goal of vaccinating all citizens older than 80 years by the end of March. Germany had crossed 50,000 coronavirus deaths since the start of the pandemic last Friday.

Anti-curfew demonstrations erupt in Netherlands as Europe battles virus