Woman left with fractured skull after being blasted with water cannon during Dutch lockdown riots

Netherlands faced four consecutive days of unrest against national coronavirus measures

A woman was reportedly left with a fractured skull after she was hit by water cannon spray during attempts by Dutch police to disperse an anti-lockdown demonstration.

Footage from Dutch organisation Ongehoord Nederland showed the woman being slammed into a building by the water cannon's jet which had been aimed towards her and another protester.

Blood could be seen pouring down her face as she was led away.

The footage was taken on Sunday, the second of four consecutive days of unrest in the Netherlands against national coronavirus measures.

Demonstrations began the night after a further 9pm to 4.30am curfew was put in place and have at times escalated into violence, rioting and looting in cities such as Amsterdam, Eindhoven and Rotterdam.

On Wednesday, Dutch police the fourth night of the curfew passed more peacefully than the previous three, but officers still arrested 131 people, mainly for public order offenses and incitement.

Police forces have resorted to the use of water cannons and tear gas to disperse crowds.

On Tuesday, the Dutch justice minister said those arrested during the rioting would face swift prosecution.

Minister Ferd Grapperhaus said rioters would be quickly brought before the courts by public prosecutors and will face possible prison terms if convicted.

"They won't get away with it," he told reporters in The Hague.