3,600 fined for violating curfew in Netherlands

On the first curfew day in the Netherlands, 3,600 fines were handed out and 25 people were arrested on Saturday night for violating the curfew rules, police said on Sunday, reported Xinhua.

In the battle against the spread of COVID-19 in the Netherlands, people are not allowed to enter the streets between 9 p.m. and 4:30 a.m. without a valid reason from Saturday night.

The police said that the overall picture was mostly calm after the curfew started. Of those who were checked, 80 percent had the correct forms with them to fall under the exception rules.

The 25 arrests were made because these people refused to go inside or due to public violence, said the police. The 3,600 people who received a fine have to pay 95 euros.

A group of young people caused unrest in the northern town of Urk where police cars were destroyed and a COVID-19 testing facility was set on fire. Two people were arrested and several dozen fines were issued, according to the police.

In the southern town of Stein, about a hundred people wanted to enjoy music and drink alcohol after 9 p.m. local time. When the police intervened, one officer was slightly injured by one of those present. According to the police, fireworks were also thrown at officers. Fourteen people were arrested.

The curfew is scheduled to last until Feb. 9.