In Rotterdam, the police arrested 35 rioters. Seven of them were arrested in Central Station because they launched heavy fireworks at bystanders and passers-by. There have also been arrests for refusing to identify themselves and for insults. Elsewhere in the city, on the Coolsingel, a police officer suffered hearing damage after a pyrotechnic bomb was set off.
The other arrests were made ‘widespread in the evening and in the city’. “After Morocco’s victory, a large number of fans celebrated. The vast majority of people behaved correctly,” police stressed on Twitter.
It was busy on Hofplein, Kruisplein and West-Kruiskade in the city centre. Riot police had to perform on the Kruisplein.
Fireworks to the rescuers
In The Hague, ten people have been arrested “for the time being” for public violence and possession of heavy fireworks. There, in Schilderswijk, the riot police also threatened to intervene this night. Hundreds of revelers took to the streets after Morocco’s victory. Initially there was a festive atmosphere, but that changed after a while. On the Vaillantlaan, the police were hit by fireworks.
Ten people were arrested in Amsterdam, police said. Other arrests are not excluded. One of the arrests was for throwing fireworks at aid workers. Earlier in the evening, the Mercatorplein in Amsterdam was evacuated. “Violence against aid workers and allies is unacceptable. We take tough measures against this. We remain alert for rioters who spoil the atmosphere,” police said.
Some shops around Mercatorplein had closed their doors earlier due to competition. Around 17.30 there were also the so-called neighborhood fathers in the square with fluorescent jackets.
Tears
Some fans were raving with joy, others were crying, as we saw on the football talk show Mocro Inside, taped in Gorinchem:
Fans of the Moroccan football team also took to the streets in the center of Breda. In Amersfoort, the De Stier roundabout has been closed. Previously, fans celebrated Morocco’s victory here. This time the revelers had gathered a little further. RTV Utrecht reports that there was also a party in Utrecht’s Lombok district. Many fireworks were heard in the city.
