The Hague issues emergency order after youth riot call
Shops were not looted, but police made arrests and The Hague issued an emergency order on Saturday after thousands of young people were urged online to riot in the city centre.
After thousands of young people were urged online to loot shops and riot in The Hague city centre on Saturday, the shops were not looted or vandalised, but around 15:00 the mood turned tense and the riot police (ME) had to step in.
The Hague issued an emergency order (noodbevel) and police tried to steer groups of young people towards Den Haag CS station. Calm returned around 17:00.
Police arrested at least ten people near the Ministry of Finance on the Korte Voorhout and pushed a group that wanted to enter the centre back to the Malieveld, where youths set off fireworks. Police also arrested four people for wearing face coverings and then seized illegal fireworks.
The call online was for a "Gen Z protest". Many shops, especially those of large chains such as Primark, MediaMarkt and de Bijenkorf, boarded up their fronts and windows on Friday and Saturday.
From about 12:00, supporters of ADO Den Haag gathered on the Plein, saying they wanted to protect the city against looters.
More on safety and emergencies · crime and the courts
Follow the story: ME
ME (Mobiele Eenheid)
The Mobile Unit (ME) is the riot police unit of the Dutch national police, deployed to keep order during demonstrations, unrest and large public events. Its officers are trained for crowd control and work in larger groups than regular patrols. It is called in when a situation becomes too tense or disorderly for the regular police to handle alone.
noodbevel
A noodbevel is an emergency order that a mayor (burgemeester) can issue under the Municipal Act (Gemeentewet) to restore public order when it is seriously disturbed. It can, for example, close off an area, order people to leave a place, or ban gatherings there. It is temporary and applies only for as long as the mayor considers the emergency to last.