Police in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht will go on a four-hour strike next Thursday in support of their claim for better pay and conditions.

Police will stop patrols and office work during the strike but will be available in emergency situations, a spokesman for the ACP union said.
The unions are calling for a 3% pay rise and agreements on early retirement. Justice minister Ivo Opstelten has imposed a pay freeze.
Football
News of next week’s strike plans came as judges in Zwolle ruled against the police taking industrial action during tonight’s first division football game between Go Ahead Eagles and FC Den Bosch.
The match is seen as high risk and judges ruled if the match was cancelled because of the lack of police support there could also be trouble between supporters. ‘Football terrorism has won against police officers’ fundamental rights,’ ACP spokesman Gerrit van de Kamp is quoted as saying by the Volkskrant.
Leeuwarden mayor Ferd Crone is also taking legal action on Friday against similar plans by the police to down tools during Saturday’s first division game between SC Cambuur and FC Zwolle.
Public order
Crone’s spokesman said without enough police on duty ‘public order could not be guaranteed’. ‘That would be irresponsible,’ he said.
Meanwhile, opposition MPs have called on justice minister Ivo Opstelten to make clear choices about police targets because of capacity problems.
‘The minister is piling priority on top of priority,’ Magda Berndsen, of the Liberal democrats D66 said during a debate in parliament.