Breakers or popular revolt against restrictive measures linked to the coronavirus?
The question divides Dutch columnists as the country was the scene of riots for the third consecutive night Monday evening, injuring a dozen police officers.
Protests degenerated on Saturday, the date of the start of the curfew put in place by the government to stop the spread of new coronavirus variants in the Netherlands.
Looted shops, vandalized bus shelters, burnt cars, throwing stones at the police: clashes have increased in recent days in the country's major cities, such as Rotterdam and Amsterdam where the mayor, Ahmed Aboutaleb, has issued an emergency decree for facilitate arrests.
But the violence has spread to medium-sized towns across the country.
In Haarlem, in the north, the police came under stone throwing and mortar fire.
Nearly 200 people were arrested on Tuesday, according to state television NOS.
A 9 p.m. curfew went into effect on Saturday, the first known to the Dutch since the start of World War II.
From this weekend, demonstrations of protests had been organized.
For Prime Minister Mark Rutte, these riots
“have nothing to do with the struggle for freedom,”
he was annoyed on Monday.
"This is criminal violence and we will treat it as such."
Read also: Denmark: new incidents during a demonstration against the restrictions
A curfew badly accepted among young people
A significant portion of the Dutch, however, do not adhere to the restrictive measures adopted by the government, since they are 24% to oppose it and 30% to doubt its usefulness, according to Rtl Niews.
Organized on social networks Facebook, Snapchat and Telegram messaging, the riots brought together a motley discontent:
"virus deniers, political protesters and young people who just saw the opportunity to go completely crazy - the three groups got together. reunited ”
, according to criminologist Henk Ferwerda.
Action movements like Virus Truth, a group of covid-skeptics that has been opposing health restrictions since September.
But the movement was also supported by the Dutch Alliance of Hooligans: "We oppose the inhumane measures that the government has taken", announces a statement on Facebook.
"Among us, there are citizens of all walks of life and of all nationalities who no longer accept it."
"In recent days, the riots have spread to populations of young people, a priori without problem."
Christophe de Voogd
Many disgruntled young people joined the riots, report the journalists on the spot.
"Young people who are bored, will watch and mingle with these groups"
, analyzes psychologist Carsten de Dreu in the Algemeen Dagblad.
“Since this summer, there have been in some neighborhoods, especially south of The Hague, unrest among young people who do not support health measures.
In recent days, they have spread to medium-sized towns reputed to be very calm and to populations of young people, a priori without any problem, ”
says the historian Christophe de Voogd, a specialist in the Netherlands, to Figaro.
The Dutch Police Union (NPB) expects further unrest in the coming days.
Meanwhile, the police intend to crack down to enforce the curfew
.
“You don't capitulate to the people who break shop windows
,
”
said Finance Minister Wopke Hoekstra.
“Tonight we'll be back in the streets to enforce the curfew.
If you commit a criminal offense, please know that we can arrest you for it later.
For example by watching video images.
Thanks to everyone who stays at home!
"
, Tweeted the police.
More than 5,700 fines have already been imposed for violating the curfew.