France's President Emmanuel Macron (C) and King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands (L) walk during a visit of the experimental quantum physics laboratory of the University of Amsterdam before signing a "pact for innovation" focusing on cooperation in semiconductors, quantum physics and energy in Amsterdam on April 12, 2023. Photo by Ludovic MARIN / AFP
Amsterdam: Dutch police arrested two protesters who ran towards French President Emmanuel Macron outside Amsterdam University on Wednesday, a police spokesman said, in a fresh disturbance during Macron's state visit.
"For the honour of the workers and a better world -- even if Macron doesn't like it, we are here," one protester chanted as he was pinned down by several security officials, TV footage showed.
The protester ran towards Macron and was tackled to the ground, knocking over a man in uniform, according to images on social media.
The incident happened just after the French president had got out of a limousine with Dutch King Willem-Alexander and was being greeted by Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema.
"We arrested two protesters for running towards the president. For disturbing public order and threatening," Amsterdam police spokesperson Lex van Liebergen told AFP.
"It was a man and a woman, protesters. One of them had a banner."
There was a separate small group of demonstrators but it was not clear if they were linked to the arrested protesters, she added.
It was the second such disruption in two days after protesters heckled Macron as he gave a speech on European sovereignty at a theatre in The Hague on Tuesday.
