The palace on Dam square in the centre of Amsterdam has been sprayed with red paint and the word “intifada” painted in yellow by pro-Palestine activists.

Cleaners were hard at work to remove the paint on Monday morning and, the building manager said, a formal police complaint has been made. “This is vandalism and that is a criminal offence,” he told broadcaster NOS.

Campaign group Palestine Action spread photos of the damage on social media. The message, they said, is directed at the Dutch government, saying the red paint “symbolises the blood of Palestinians flowing through the streets of Gaza”.

Earlier this month there was a similar paint attack on Rotterdam’s council offices.

The palace, once called the “eighth wonder” of the world, was built in the 17^th century as Amsterdam’s city hall. It’s roof and façade are currently undergoing a major renovation.