25,000 march through Amsterdam to protest about the coronavirus pass

Demonstrators march through Amsterdam. Photo: Selman Aksunger / Anadolu Agency via ANP
Demonstrators march through Amsterdam. Photo: Selman Aksunger / Anadolu Agency via ANP

Some 25,000 people marched through central Amsterdam on Sunday in protest at the coronavirus measures, despite the wet weather.

The demonstration began on Dam square in the centre of the Dutch capital before moving off for a five kilometre protest march.

The protest attracted a wide range of people, from hippies to couples with children, men in army clothing and far-right political parties. They carried banners and placards stating that ‘QR is going too far’ or ‘unvaccinated lives matters’.

At one point, a gallows could be clearly seen on social media photographs and was used to direct threats at health minister Hugo de Jonge. Police said later they are investigating the threats.

Willem Engel, the former dance teacher turned anti-coronavirus measure campaigner said on Twitter that people should ‘calm down’ about the gallows.

‘The gallows is only frightening to those who know they deserve it,’ he said.

The demonstration is the second to be held in the capital in protest at the introduction of the coronavirus pass. A march in early September attracted the same sort of numbers.

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