Over 400 people were arrested during last night's New Year celebrations and riot police were in action in the four big cities, but there were no major incidents, news agency ANP reports.
In Utrecht one person is reported to have been killed after being run over by a car, according to local media reports. The person has not yet been formally identified, but it is thought he or she was attempting to set of fireworks in the road when the incident happened.
In Rotterdam 157 people were arrested, but the traditional celebrations on the Erasmus bridge in the city centre featuring Di-Rect and Esmee Denters passed off in an orderly fashion, mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb told an early morning news conference.
In the Hague, the arrest toll topped 100 and 17 cars were set on fire, well below last year's total of 52. Two police officers were injured when a firework went off in their van. Nevertheless, mayor Jozias van Aartsen described the festivities as 'manageable'.
Amsterdam was described as 'relatively peaceful', with some 80 arrests. Up to 45,000 people had crammed in to the city's Museum plein for a free concert by Marco Borsato, soprano Barbara Hannigan and the finalists of the Popstars tv talent show.
Security was strict, everyone was searched for glass and fireworks, and there were no incidents, ANP said.
Veen
The celebrations passed off peacefully in the Brabant village of Veen, where last year riot police were called in to break up a gang of some 100 youths who were setting cars on fire. This year there was a heavy police presence and army airborne surveillance equipment was brought in to keep an eye on troublemakers.
In central Netherlands there were some arrests, mostly for vandalism and setting off illegal fireworks. 'There were no major incidents,' a police spokesman told the Telegraaf.
Police were also brought in to restore order in Hoek van Holland and Capelle aan den IJssel.
Dutch News
