Riot police have been drafted in to break up illegal demonstrations in Eindhoven and Amsterdam after hundreds of people gathered to protest about the coronavirus rules.

In Eindhoven, police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse a crowd of several hundred people on the 18 Septemberplein. Demonstrators threw fireworks and golf balls at the police and at least 30 people were arrested.

Train services to and from Eindhoven were also disrupted for a time because people were walking on the tracks, broadcaster RTL reported. The station shops were also plundered.

In Amsterdam several hundred people went to the Museumplein to protest about the curfew despite warnings to stay away. Here too, police used water cannon and dogs to break up the crowd, in a repeat of the trouble last weekend, when 150 people were arrested.

The trouble will be discussed by regional safety board chiefs at their regular meeting on Monday, chairman Hubert Bruls told broadcaster NOS.