Live updates: follow the latest news on Covid-19 variant Omicron
Thousands of protesters defied authorities and gathered in the Dutch capital Amsterdam on Sunday to oppose coronavirus restrictions, leading to clashes and arrests.
"This is Holland! Power to the people!" chanted one protester.
The demonstrators rallied in one of the city's main squares, despite Dutch authorities banning the protest beforehand.
Clashes with police left several people with minor injuries and security forces made arrests, public broadcaster NOS reported.
Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced a lockdown one week before Christmas on December 25 in response to a fresh wave of Covid infections fuelled by the Omicron variant.
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A health centre employee performs a coronavirus test in the Kurfuerstendamm shopping street in Berlin, Germany. AP Photo -
People present their vaccination status as they queue in front of the famous department store 'KaDeWe' in Berlin. AP Photo -
A coffin which contains a person who died with the coronavirus, and is labelled "Covid-19", in a crematorium's cold room in Meissen, Germany. AP Photo -
A quiet retail precinct during the introduction of lockdown measures in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Bloomberg -
A vast Covid-19 vaccination centre set up inside the France's national Velodrome near Paris. EPA -
A medical technician administers nasal swabs at a mobile testing site in Paris. AP Photo -
Children are vaccinated at a centre in Selestat, eastern France. AP Photo -
People queue up outside a pharmacy to have swab tests in Turin, Italy. EPA -
A crowd wearing face masks in downtown Madrid, Spain. AP Photo -
Nurses take care of a Covid-19 patient at the Basurto Hospital in Bilbao, Spain. EPA
Non-essential shops, restaurants, bars, cinemas, theatres and museums remain closed until January 14 and schools until January 9.
Only two people may meet outdoors, with an exception for burials, but no travel restrictions were imposed.
