Protest against the corona measures in the center of Rotterdam, Netherlands gets completely out of hand. Shots have been fired, at least 1 person has been shot and the city center has been demolished. The police struggled to get it under control. Photo: AFP

Tens of thousands of protesters marched through several northwest European cities on Saturday to demonstrate against coronavirus restrictions imposed amid a surge in infections.

Austria in November became the first country in Western Europe to reimpose a lockdown, which is set to last 20 days, and said it would make vaccinations mandatory from February.

Since the lockdown came into effect, infection numbers in the country of 8.9 million have fallen from highs of 13,000 a day to under 10,000.    

However, the restrictions have prompted a backlash from many Austrians.

Local media reported protesters had traveled to the Vienna protests from across the country Saturday, and families with children were among those taking part.

Some of the more than 40,000 demonstrators in Vienna carried signs reading: "I will decide for myself," "Make Austria Great Again" and "New Elections" - a nod to the political turmoil that has seen three chancellors within two months. 

Around 1,200 police officers deployed for the march on the central Ring boulevard, and a 1,500-strong counter-protest, both allowed under the terms of Austria's lockdown.

In the central Dutch town of Utrecht, several thousand demonstrated against restrictions that began last weekend.

Protesters carried banners reading "Medical Freedom Now!" with a large police contingent present.

It was the first major demonstration in the Netherlands against the measures, which include a nighttime closure of bars, restaurants and most stores to stem a wave of COVID-19 cases that is threatening to overwhelm the healthcare system. 

Two weeks ago, there were violent protests after the Dutch government announced plans to ban most unvaccinated people from bars, restaurants and other public places.

"We are against having no freedom [to decide what happens to] our own body," Utrecht demonstrator Marit van Hunen said.

In the German financial capital, Frankfurt, police broke up a demonstration of several hundred people for failing to wear masks or maintain social distancing, using batons and pepper spray after they were attacked by a group of protesters.

And in Berlin, where a new government is set to take office within days, small groups gathered to protest after a large demonstration was banned.

Agencies