THE HAGUE, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Amsterdam police arrested over 50 climate protesters blocking a main road to the Rijksmuseum in the city center on Monday.
Hundreds of protesters blocked the Stadhouderskade, a street along the Rijksmuseum, since Monday morning.
The municipality of Amsterdam had forbidden the blockade, but the protesters of the so-called Extinction Rebellion action group nevertheless continued their action. They set up tents and emphasized they intend to stay for a while.
The climate protest is part of an international campaign. The activists say they want to continue the blockade for a week in order to enforce more climate measures.
At around 11 a.m. local time, the police stated that already over 50 arrests have been made to end the blockade and more arrests are ongoing.
"The action is primarily aimed at de-escalation and a proper end of the blockade and a safe flow of traffic," the police stated.
The activists were allowed by the Amsterdam municipality to demonstrate at the nearby Museumplein square behind the Rijksmuseum, because the protest there would cause less inconvenience. The police told the activists through loudspeakers that they should go to the Museumplein, which they refused.
The area around the Rijksmuseum is closed off by police officers. The municipality warned for traffic delays and advised people to take other roads.
