Police have arrested 20 people after fighting broke out in the Amsterdam suburb of Osdorp for the third night in a row.

The trouble began shortly after the autumn fair closed at 7pm, a time imposed by the council in response to previous disturbances.

One local resident said a group of youths ran riot in the Tussen Meer area, starting fires and letting off fireworks. ‘I was on the balcony but they started throwing fireworks up, I had to go inside,’ the resident told AT5.

Police initially tried to defuse the situation, but as the violence escalated riot police were called in and brought the situation under control at around 10pm.

Zo ziet het er rond Tussen Meer uit op dit momenthttps://t.co/kEoSNqtGkU pic.twitter.com/YXDJTiEy9v

— AT5 (@AT5) October 18, 2022

Around 20 people were arrested for disturbing the peace and taken away on a bus hired from public transport operator GVB. The bus was stuck for around 15 minutes after the driver tried to turn around on Tussen Meer, blocking the tramline.

On Monday night riot police dispersed crowds of youths who gathered in the area after the fair closed at 7pm, three hours earlier than usual, on the orders of the council.

Extra security

Fairground operator Frans Stuy said he regretted the fact that he had had to take extra security measures to keep the fair open for the rest of the week, including restricting access to one entry and exit route.

‘I’ve been here 35 years and seen every generation pass through. Things have happened in that time, but never like this,’ he said.

‘For the first time in 35 years we had searches at the gate. I’ve always been against having a fair with fences and searches. It’s always worked fine until this weekend.’