The coronavirus protests led to a sharp rise in the number of people taken to court for incitement, threats and public order offences last year, according to figures from the public prosecution department and quoted by the Volkskrant.

The number of court cases relating to threats rose 8% compared with 2020, while the number of people prosecuted for incitement doubled to 254. Many of these cases related to youngsters who refused to comply with the lockdown, the VK said.

Over 1,200 people were charged with refusing to follow police orders and 1,177 for assault and physical violence. In most cases, the police, council wardens and politicians were on the receiving end.