Protesters opposing plans to build a refugee centre in Berlicum, Noord-Brabant, threw smoke bombs and eggs at the town hall, set a pile of tyres on fire at the intended location, and nailed pigs’ trotters to protest posters on Thursday night.

The centre will house between 240 and 270 refugees when it is built, but locals are furious at the plan, saying the project is too big for such a small village.

According to local broadcaster Omroep Brabant, several hundred people gathered outside the town hall, where councillors were meeting, throwing eggs and empty cans at the building.

Police were out in force but did not intervene, Omroep Brabant said. They did, however, use a drone to monitor the crowd. One man, a 32-year-old local, was arrested for attempting to set off powerful fireworks.

The demonstration broke up around 9.30 pm, but later in the evening, a pile of old tyres was set on fire at the location of the refugee centre. The fire brigade was able to extinguish it quickly, and the police are now investigating.

Signs attached to the fencing around the site carried anti-centre slogans, and some were hung with pigs’ trotters which had to be cleaned up by council workers.

Protester Ronny van Esch said a centre with 40 to 50 residents could be up for discussion but that “300 people so close to a residential area is asking for trouble.”

He said the protest had been planned on social media during the day and that he did not think it would be the last. Blericum, which is part of the Sint-Michielsgestel local authority area, has a population of some 3,400 people.

Acting mayor Peter Raaijmakers said in a statement that people have the right to demonstrate and express their opinions. “But it is not the case that you can use basic rights to vandalise property, hang pigs’ trotters on a fence, verbally attack other villagers who disagree with you, and threaten people,” he said.

The protestors have pledged to hold a “meeting for residents” about the plans on April 2.