A group of protesters belonging to Britain's extremist English Defence League has gathered in Amsterdam to show support for anti-Islam MP Geert Wilders.

Watched by a large police force, the protesters gathered in fenced-off port area just west of the capital. Police succeeded in preventing confrontations with Ajax football fans staging a counter-protest.  Police arrested 34 people, five of them Britons. Eighteen, who were not carrying an identity card, were released after paying a fine. Fourteen others were detained for vandalism and remain in police custody.

Elsewhere, some 500 people attended a rally organised by the Platform against Xenophobia. No incidents were reported there.

The English Defence League, formed in 2009, says it wants to stop the spread of Islam, Sharia law and Islamic extremism in England.

Freedom Party leader Geert Wilders is currently on trial on charges of group insult, inciting hatred and discrimination. A retrial was ordered a week ago after a review panel ruled that the judges had created an appearance of bias.

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