Police sealed off the Malieveld area near The Hague’s central station on Sunday afternoon after hundreds of demonstrators refused to disperse.

The crowd had gathered to protest about the government’s coronavirus strategy but far more than the agreed 200 turned up. There were several arrests when police tried to break up the gathering using water canon.

At one point a police officer dog handler discharged a warning shot, broadcaster NOS said.

Train services to The Hague were also halted for a time in an effort to prevent more people joining the demonstration. The area had been cleared by late Sunday afternoon.

A similar demonstration in Amsterdam attracted around 150 people.