Two members of the extreme right-wing grouping Nederlandse Volks-Unie were arrested in Amsterdam on Saturday for giving a Nazi salute in front of city hall.

In total around 40 members of the NVU attended the demonstration on Saturday afternoon. Two others were picked up for ‘anti-semetic images’ – stickers featuring noses and a no-entry sign.

Police were out in force to keep the NVU separate from anti-fascist demonstrators. According to news agency ANP, some 200 riot police were on duty and had closed off the area around the city hall and main bridge over the Amstel.

Two anti-fascist demonstrators were arrested for threatening behaviour and two others were picked up later at Sloterdijk station for throwing fireworks at a coach carrying the NVU supporters.

Amsterdam mayor Eberhard van der Laan gave the green light to the demonstration on Friday, on the condition that the demonstrators kept to the agreed time and location and that no nazi symbols were on view.

The NVU had called the demonstration in protest at ‘left-wing fascism and violence’.

Tja… ‘Kaas is de baas’ pic.twitter.com/rJhLJ0yayi — Rutger Groot Wassink (@RutgerGW) March 12, 2016