Riot police were drafted in on Saturday night to end an illegal party in front of the town hall in the Overijssel village of Dalfsen, which included live performances.

The party was scheduled to take place in a large barn close to the village of 15,000 people, but the council threatened the organisers with fines if it went ahead, local broadcaster RTV Oost reported.

Several hundred people and several performers headed for the town hall instead, leading mayor Erica van Lente to invoke her emergency powers and call in the riot squad. They closed off the roads to the village and broke up the party, which the mayor said had threatened to get out of hand.

Police have not yet said if anyone was arrested.

In Alkmaar too, the police broke up crowds which had gathered in the town centre following the protest action by some eight café and bar owners. As the cafes closed, a large group gathered by the Platte Steenbrug, singing and dancing.

No-one was fined, local broadcaster NH Nieuws said.