Amsterdammers, particularly in the south and east of the city, are being warned about city council plans to stage a major terrorist attack rehearsal on November 8 and 9.

The rehearsal will involve all the emergency services plus specialist army units and will be ‘visible and audible’ to locals, the city council warned in a letter to locals.

The practice attack will focus on the Haddock restaurant on Zeeburgereiland in the east and the Europaplein metro station which is not yet operational. The rehearsal will involve the use of practice ammunition, the city statement said.

The national threat level in the Netherlands and the capital has been at ‘substantial’ since March 2013 but there are no indications that an attack in Amsterdam is imminent, officials say.

Nevertheless, measures have been taken to make the city more resistant to the terrorist threat in the wake of Barcelona and Turku attacks. These involve the placing of concrete blocks and metal poles to stop cars entering shopping streets. Jewish institutions and major tourist attractions are also under extra surveillance.

The Netherlands has so far avoided the sort of attacks witnessed in other European countries, although several people have been jailed for plotting to take part in terrorism.