Appeal court judges on Tuesday upheld the ban imposed last year on motorbike gangs No Surrender and Hells Angels.

Both biker gangs have a culture of violence which threatens public safety and their members are systematically involved in crime, such as drugs trading and blackmail, the appeal court said.

Last May, civil court judges in Utrecht agreed that the Dutch arm of motorbike gang Hells Angels should be banned and broken up, ending years of legal action by the public prosecution department.

In June 2019, judges in Assen banned the motorbike club No Surrender, saying it presented a threat to public order.

The courts had earlier banned biker gangs Satudarah and Bandidos, although the Bandidos ban was partially overturned on appeal.