Germany game against Netherlands called off over bomb fears

German Police stand outside the HDI-Arena in Hanover, Germany, on November 17, 2015. [Photo/IC]

"I am asking for an advance of trust from the German people. We will have such cases in the future, maybe not Hanover but somewhere else," he said.

After Friday's attacks in Paris security measures in Hanover had been tight. In a show of solidarity, Merkel was set to attend the soccer match with Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel and several government ministers.

Interim German Football Association President Reinhard Rauball said he called up the team in the bus some five kilometres (3 miles) from the stadium, telling them the game was cancelled.

Both the German and the Dutch teams were then rushed to a secure undisclosed location before the hosts left individually for their homes and the visitors for the airport.

"That we would go through this twice in four days is not something I could imagine," Rauball, visibly shaken, told reporters. "It is a sad day for Germany and a sad day for German football."

Two Dutch government ministers who were due to attend the match - Defence Minister Jeanine Hennes and Health and Sport Minister Edith Schippers - were also returning home.

World champions Germany had not initially wanted the game to go ahead after having played in Paris on Friday as a wave of attacks hit the city, killing 129 people.

The contingent of 80 Germans, including players, coaches and staff, spent the night holed up in the changing rooms of the Stade de France stadium, before heading for the airport on Saturday morning.

The players, coaches and the national football association decided to go ahead with the Hanover game in a gesture of solidarity with France.