Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema has declared the Museumplein as a security risk area for Sunday, January 2, following the decision to ban a demonstration by anti-coronavirus measure campaigners.

The mayor and police have reached the decision because there are indications that people armed with weapons planned to converge on the square despite the demonstration ban, the Parool quoted city officials as saying.

Calls have been made on social media for people to gather on the Museumplein in defiance of the ban and the far right Forum voor Democratie said they planned to hold a rally anyway.

The emergency regulations run from 11am to 11pm and mean that anyone found within the area can be stopped and searched.

The riot police had been planning to strike on Sunday but have now revised their plans to reflect the heightened risk of trouble, police unions have confirmed.