More than 20,000 people took part in Sunday’s demonstration against the government’s coronavirus rules, city officials say.

The organisers had said they expected 50,000 people to take part in the protest.

The demonstrators ranged from people claiming the government is creating ‘medical apartheid’ by introducing coronavirus passes for events, to anti-vaxxers, conspiracy theorists, and extreme right-wing groups.

One elderly woman passed out leaflets proclaiming ‘Jesus is the answer’. Others chanted ‘love, freedom, no dictatorship’ and several demonstrators wore the yellow star which Jews were forced to wear during World War II.

‘Whoever gets vaccinated is being murdered,’ cafe owner Marco IJben told the NRC. ‘We don’t know what is in them.’

‘I am not afraid of the virus, but I am afraid of the society we are becoming,’ said ‘Eduard’ from Alkmaar. ‘The government will soon have total control of us.’

Peaceful

Police said the demonstration and subsequent march through the city centre was good humoured and passed off without incident.

On Friday, health minister Hugo de Jonge confirmed the government is considering making the use of QR codes showing the user is either vaccinated, or has tested negative, compulsory for visiting museums and cafes.

At the moment they are required for larger seated events.