Protesters targeted Amsterdam’s main police station. Photo: HH/Michel van Bergen via ANP
Eight people have been arrested after riot police broke up violent protests by Ajax fans against a police strike that prevented their weekend match from going ahead.
Hundreds of hardcore supporters gathered on Leidseplein on Sunday afternoon after acting mayor Marjolein Moorman ordered the match in Amsterdam against Utrecht to be postponed, on the advice of the police.
Fireworks were let off, police vehicles and bicycles were attacked and a group of fans vandalised the cityβs police headquarters on Elandsgracht. Officers in riot gear drove the crowd back with baton charges and made eight arrests.
βDespite receiving several warnings a group continued to seek a confrontation,β a spokesman said via social media channel X, better known as Twitter.

The demonstration was organised by fansβ group Ajax Supporters Delegatie after the clubβs last two games, including the Klassieker against Feyenoord in Rotterdam a week earlier, had to be postponed because of the police strike.
βPartly because of these strikes we have fallen behind in the league and will have to catch up by playing the matches on unsuitable days and times.β
βUnacceptableβ
A police spokesman said the fansβ behaviour was βunacceptable, disappointing and utterly unnecessaryβ, while Moorman, who is standing in for city mayor Femke Halsema, said: βThis group of so-called supporters do a disservice to football and Ajax.β
The police unions announced a month ago that they would not be providing cover for selected weekend Eredivisie matches as part of their ongoing campaign for an early retirement scheme.
The current arrangement, which allows officers to retire three years early, is ending in 2025 and the government has not come up with a replacement.
Social affairs minister Eddy van Hijum has earmarked money to allow people in physically demanding professions to retire early, but police unions said last week there were βinsufficient signs from the government that they are working at speed on an adequate early pension scheme.β