Officials in The Hague have banned a demonstration by a group campaigning against cornavirus social distancing measures.

The group, calling itself Virus Waanzin  (virus lunacy), had planned to gather on the Malieveld near the city’s main railway station on Sunday, and said 10,000 people were expected to attend.

But The Hague mayor Johan Remkes said the demonstration was being banned because ‘the way in which it has been organised poses a danger to public safety’.

Not only did the number of people expected to attend break maximum capacity at the chosen location, but the organisers planned to have DJs on stage, Remkes said.

‘The right to demonstration is a good thing, but the Malieveld is not made of elastic,’ the acting mayor said. In addition, mass events have been banned until at least September 1, Remkes pointed out.

The demonstration organisers say they now plan to go to court to have the ban overturned. ‘Democracy has been set aside and we will not accept this,’ spokesman Willem Engel, an outspoken critic of the government’s coronavirus strategy, said.