The qualification of Morocco against the Netherlands sparked significant scenes of celebration in several Dutch cities from Monday night to Tuesday. In Amsterdam, Utrecht, The Hague, and Amersfoort, numerous supporters of the Atlas Lions took to the streets to celebrate Morocco’s victory in the penalty shootout.
According to NL Times, the atmosphere was initially largely festive, marked by Moroccan flags, honking horns, car parades, and fireworks. However, in The Hague, in the Schilderswijk neighborhood, the situation escalated when fireworks were launched towards police officers.
The riot police then intervened to disperse the crowd, using a water cannon on Vaillantlaan. At least one person was arrested, while law enforcement was already heavily deployed in the area due to the sensitive nature of this match between Morocco and the Netherlands.
In Amsterdam Nieuw-West, several hundred supporters also gathered around Plein ’40-’45, where fireworks and smoke bombs were reported. In Utrecht, honking was heard in several neighborhoods, including Overvecht, Lombok, and Kanaleneiland.
These scenes reflect the immense emotional significance of this qualification for the Moroccan diaspora in the Netherlands, following a historic success for the Atlas Lions against the Oranje.
