1999 Rotterdam riots
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The 1999 Rotterdam riots refers to serious riots and clashes between Dutch security forces and football hooligans in Rotterdam, the Netherlands on 26 April 1999.
Feyenoord football club won the Dutch title (1998-99 Eredivisie) on 25 April having beaten NAC Breda in a game. In celebration a large street party ceremony of up to 250,000 people took place in Coolsingel in Rotterdam city centre. Trouble from about 100 to 150 youngsters and hooligans soon broke out who clashed with police on Stadsplein. Shortly after, shops and property were smashed in wide-scale looting in Lijnbaan, with windows of 93 stores smashed.[1]
Riot police used water cannons to disperse the crowd. Officers were also forced to open fire, shooting four hooligans. Altogether 16 people were injured, whilst 80 were arrested.[2][3] It is thought hooligans fired back at police.[4]
These were some of the worst instances of hooligan violence in the country.[5]