Amsterdam police taser male parcel courier after he refused to move van

What happened

On Thursday, 29 October 2026, around 15:30, a police officer used a stun weapon on a male parcel courier on the Runstraat, a shopping street in Amsterdam's Negen Straatjes area. Police say the man had stopped his van in a spot where he was not allowed to, blocking the road during loading and unloading. When the officer asked him to move the van so traffic could pass, he refused, and he did not cooperate with his arrest. The situation then escalated, and the officer, also a man, tasered him at close range, after which the courier fell to the ground. A no-stopping rule applies in the area from 12:00 to 18:00.

The courier was taken to the police station that afternoon, where he received three fines. The articles report that he was released afterwards and no further penalties beyond those fines.

The police account

Police say the online video captures only a fraction of the incident. A police spokesperson told reporters that officers had also reviewed other footage and that more happened before the events visible online. The spokesperson said the escalation may have started before the clip begins. Officers are required to weigh which use of force to deploy and to warn in advance where the situation allows, but the online images do not show whether a warning was given.

The spokesperson explained the officer's reasoning in these words:

“At a certain moment a colleague decides: I cannot handle this any other way. Then he chooses a stun weapon.”

The use of the taser was reported to a judicial officer (hulpofficier van justitie), who will review the use of force. Police guidelines state that a stun weapon is meant for directly threatening situations and must be necessary, effective and proportionate to the situation.

The video and the wider debate

A bystander's recording shows the courier arguing with the officer, asking why he is being arrested while holding his hands out to the side. The officer then moves toward him and tasers him from close range, and the man drops to the ground. Other bystanders can be heard voicing anger, and one woman is heard asking whether the officer has lost his mind. Maarten Brink, chairman of the Dutch Police Union (Nederlandse Politiebond), warned against judging the incident on the basis of clips alone.

Brink argued that a full picture is needed before forming a view:

“We say you have to have the whole picture. Often these are clips that have been cut or edited.”

Brink added that people quickly form a judgment through media coverage. He also said that every use of police force is checked, and that this applies to all incidents.

What comes next

The use of the taser has been reported to the judicial officer, who will test it against the rules on the use of force. The Dutch Police Union has said it will not pass judgment on the incident or the cause while the review is ongoing. The union's stated starting point is that officers must be able to do their work safely and professionally. Police say every use of force is examined, and the officer's account and the wider footage will form part of that assessment.