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Partying at the illegal New Year's Eve party in Rijswijk
Photo: SEM VAN DER WAL / EPA
Raven instead of lockdown: In the Netherlands, the police have broken up an illegal New Year's Eve party with hundreds of partiers with a large contingent.
This took place despite the nationwide corona lockdown.
Hundreds of officers and ten police buses were on duty on New Year's Eve on the site of a former factory in Rijswijk, central Netherlands, as the public broadcaster NOS reported on Saturday.
The operation was carried out without violence, but there were several arrests, reported the local media group Omroep Gelderland.
The rave party had reportedly started on New Year's Eve in the warehouse of a former brick factory.
Residents reported that numerous vehicles with German, French, Spanish and Italian license plates were parked in front of the building.
Non-essential stores closed until January 14th
The mayor of the municipality of Buren, to which Rijswijk belongs, condemned the party on the online service Twitter.
"This is an illegal celebration, so it is forbidden," wrote Josan Meijers.
“In addition, it is not appropriate during the Corona crisis.
The measures apply to everyone, "he added, referring to the corona restrictions in the Netherlands.
Due to the increasing number of new corona infections and the spread of the highly contagious Omicron variant, a new lockdown was imposed in the Netherlands a week before Christmas.
All non-essential shops as well as bars, cinemas, museums and theaters must remain closed until January 14th.
In the state's schools, face-to-face classes are to take place again on January 10th at the earliest.
A maximum of two people are allowed to meet outdoors, exceptions apply to funerals, among other things.
col / AFP