The Hague mayor Jozias van Aartsen on Tuesday issued a statement calling for calm in the wake of Monday night’s riots.

In total, 16 people were arrested for taking part in the violence which flared up following the death of Aruban tourist Mitch Henriquez. Several remain in custody and the police are not ruling out further arrests.

‘I understand the emotions surrounding the death of Mitch Henriquez,’ the mayor said. ‘It is important that the inquiry by the public prosecution service and state department of criminal investigation is conducted carefully, critically but especially quickly so that we get clarity as soon as possible on what exactly transpired before, during and after the arrest.

‘With this in mind demonstrations were allowed last night. But violence is of course not a solution. The police took action when officers were besieged and a neighbourhood where the residents had nothing to do with this incident was vandalised.

‘I implore everyone to remain calm and not to let feelings of powerlessness and anger to degenerate into vandalism and violence.’

Mitch Henriquez was pinned to the ground and bundled into a police van as he left the Night at the Park concert in the city’s Zuiderpark on Saturday evening. He died in hospital the next day.

The public prosecutor claimed initially he had become unwell in the back of the police car. But this statement was retracted when several videos showed Henriquez apparently unconscious before he was dragged to the van.