Crowds gathered in Amsterdam's Museum Square to object against Covid-19 measures and vaccinations – despite a country-wide ban on group meet-ups.

City Mayor Femke Halsema issued emergency orders allowing cops to clear the area of rule-breakers during the latest wave of virus infections.

Water cannons were used to disperse swarms of people, while police dogs attacked those getting too close.

Officers also thrashed activists with batons as tempers flared.

Footage of the demo shows a cop whacking a woman over the head with his shield.

In another clip, things turn even more violent when a dog sinks its teeth into a protester's arm and drags him along the ground.