Hundreds of people took to the streets of Copenhagen on Saturday night to protest Denmark's COVID-19 restrictions and the country's plans for a digital vaccination certificate.

Organized by a group calling itself "Men in Black Denmark," some 600 people gathered in front of the parliament building in the bitter cold to protest Denmark's partial lockdown.

Plans for a digital vaccine "passport" were a main target of their anger.

Like other European countries, Denmark intends to develop a digital certificate for COVID-19 vaccination for travel.

It could also potentially be used for sports and cultural events as well as restaurants.

Protest organizers say such a passport implies an obligation to be vaccinated and amounts to a further restriction on individual freedom. Vaccination is not compulsory in Denmark.

Demonstrators, including some wearing hoods, marched with torches in the center of the Danish capital, chanting "we have had enough" and "freedom for Denmark."

The authorized march was, however, largely peaceful, with a large contingent of police deployed.

Non-essential shops, bars and restaurants are closed in the Scandinavian country of 5.8 million people, and the government has extended the restrictions until at least February 28.

However, primary schools can reopen on Monday.

Denmark has registered just over 200,000 infections in total, with 2,200 coronavirus-related deaths.

(Cover image: A demonstrator wearing a hood faces the police during a protest against restrictions introduced by the Danish government during the COVID-19 pandemic in Copenhagen, Denmark, January 23, 2021. /CFP )