Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema and the police have moved Sunday’s demonstration, which will be addressed by British conspiracy theorist David Icke, from the Dam to Museumplein because of the risk of trouble.

Three counter demonstrations are planned to coincide with the appearance by Icke, who believes the world is governed by shape-shifting reptiles, and this could give rise to ‘disturbances’, the police and the mayor said in a statement.

‘Police intervention in such a situation on the Dam would bring additional risks,’ they said.

The demonstration has been organised by a group called Samen voor Nederland, ostensibly to protest about the way the ‘interests of the Dutch people are being subjugated to the European dictatorship’. It is supported by a number of conspiracy theorists, far right politicians and Covid-deniers.

The Israel information centre Cidi is one of the groups that will hold a counter demonstration, in protest at Icke’s anti-Semitic stance.

Frank Reusink of the SvN organizing committee, said the organisation was considering going to court about the decision to move the location.

‘We do not have good memories of police violence on the Museumplein’ he said, referring to violence clashes between police and Covid-deniers at several demonstrations during the pandemic.

City officials have not yet heard if it is possible to ban Icke from entering the Netherlands to speak, local broadcaster AT5 said.