Amsterdam Unrest Highlights Societal Divisions and Political Ramifications

A delicate calm prevails over the Dutch capital, which is still recovering from the unrest that erupted a week ago when Israeli football supporters were targeted in central Amsterdam. Authorities in the city characterized the violence as a “toxic combination of antisemitism, hooliganism, and anger” over the war in Gaza, Israel and elsewhere in the Middle East. With Maccabi Ultras stickers being removed from streets and underlying tensions persisting, worries exist regarding the harm to relationships between Amsterdam’s Jewish and Muslim populations. These tensions have also extended into the political sphere in the Netherlands. The coalition government of the Netherlands faces instability after a junior minister, born in Morocco, stepped down due to remarks made by fellow coalition members. Amsterdam had previously experienced demonstrations and heightened tensions related to the conflict in the Middle East, and local Rabbi Lody van de Kamp likened the situation to a tinderbox: “If you put 2,000 [Israeli] football supporters on to the streets, you know you are in trouble.” Supporters of Maccabi Tel Aviv had come to the city for a Europa League fixture against Ajax, and video circulated extensively the preceding evening depicted a group of supporters scaling a wall to remove and set fire to a Palestinian flag. A report from the Amsterdam council indicated that taxis were additionally subjected to attacks and vandalism. Emine Uğur, a well-known columnist in the Muslim community, asserts that pre-existing tensions linked to the Gaza war suggested the subsequent violence was “a long time coming”. She highlights an absence of recognition for the suffering experienced by communities impacted by a conflict that had deprived many of a means to express their sorrow and exasperation. The act of flag-burning and anti-Arab chants were perceived as intentional provocations. However, subsequently, calls for retribution emerged on social media, with some employing alarming phrases like “Jew hunt”. During the match evening, a pro-Palestinian demonstration was relocated away from the Johan Cruyff arena, but the violence commenced in the subsequent hours. The 12-page report from Amsterdam’s authorities details certain Maccabi supporters “committing acts of vandalism” in the centre. It then points to “small groups of rioters… engaged in violent hit-and-run actions targeting Israeli supporters and nightlife crowd” in locations across the city centre. These groups traveled “on foot, by scooter, or car… committing severe assaults”. Amsterdam’s mayor, Femke Halsema, characterized these events as profoundly disturbing, and observed that for some, they evoked memories of past pogroms targeting Jews. For several hours, significant segments of the Jewish community within a European capital experienced a sense of being under attack. These occurrences coincided with the 1938 anniversary of the Nazi pogroms against Jews, also referred to as Kristallnacht. This further heightened the anxieties of Amsterdam’s Jewish population, despite local imams and other individuals from the Muslim community participating in the commemorative events. Prominent figures, such as Esther Voet, who edits the Dutch Jewish Weekly, arranged emergency accommodations and orchestrated rescue operations for individuals concerned for their safety. The government of the Netherlands has reacted by dedicating €4.5m (£3.6m) towards combating antisemitism and assisting victims. Justice Minister David van Weel underscored the necessity for Jewish individuals to feel secure in their nation and pledged stringent action against those responsible. Nevertheless, Chanan Hertzberger, chairman of the Central Jewish Committee, cautioned that these actions by themselves may prove insufficient. He attributed this partly to an environment where “antisemitic rhetoric has gone unchecked since 7 October”, adding: “Our history teaches us that when people say they want to kill you, they mean it, and they will try.” The unrest and its consequences have also revealed political divisions, and certain statements from politicians have caused dismay within the Moroccan community in the Netherlands. Geert Wilders, leader of the far-right Freedom Party, which is the largest among the four parties forming the Dutch coalition government, has advocated for the expulsion of dual nationals found guilty of antisemitism. Both he and his coalition colleague Caroline van der Plas, alongside others, have attributed blame to young individuals of Moroccan or North African heritage. Hassnae Bouazza, a Dutch-Moroccan commentator, expressed grievance that her community had long faced accusations of lacking integration, and was currently facing threats of revocation of their Dutch nationality. Nadia Bouras, a Dutch historian of Moroccan descent, informed Amsterdam’s Het Parool newspaper that applying the term “integration” to individuals who have resided in the Netherlands for four generations amounted to “holding them hostage”. “You are holding them in a constant state of being foreign, even though they are not.” Nora Achahbar, the junior minister for benefits, who was born in Morocco but raised in the Netherlands, announced on Friday her resignation from the government, citing racist remarks she encountered during a cabinet meeting on Monday, three days following the Amsterdam violence. It is possible she will not be the only one. Rabbi van de Kamp informed the BBC of his apprehension that antisemitism is being exploited politically to advance Islamophobic objectives. He advises against re-adopting the exclusionary stances characteristic of the 1930s, warning that such discourse not only jeopardizes Jewish communities but also intensifies mistrust within society: “We must show that we cannot be made into enemies.” The repercussions for Amsterdam’s Muslim and Jewish inhabitants are significant. Numerous Jewish individuals have taken down mezuzahs – small Torah scrolls – from their doorposts, or have concealed them with duct tape, fearing retaliation. Esther Voet observes the emotional burden on her community: “It’s an exaggeration to say that the Netherlands now is like the 1930s, but we must pay attention and speak out when we see something that’s not right.” Concurrently, Muslims contend they are being held responsible for the deeds of a small segment, even before the individuals responsible have been identified. Columnist Emine Uğur has personally encountered heightened threats as an outspoken Muslim woman: “People feel emboldened.” She expresses apprehension for her son’s prospects in a divided society where the boundaries of separation appear to be solidifying. Scholars and community figures have urged for a reduction in tensions and reciprocal comprehension. Bart Wallet, a professor of Jewish Studies at the University of Amsterdam, emphasizes the importance of precise terminology, cautioning against likening the recent violence to historical pogroms. Similar to others, he hopes the violence represents an isolated event rather than an indication of escalating ethnic polarization. Mayor Femke Halsema firmly asserts that antisemitism should not lead to other types of racism, stressing that the security of one community should not compromise that of another. The unrest has prompted Amsterdam to re-evaluate its self-perception as a diverse and tolerant urban center. A shared understanding exists, both within the Dutch capital and elsewhere, that for residents to restore trust, they must confront the underlying tensions that ignited this unrest. As Amsterdam’s cyclists pass by, Rabbi van de Kamp, warming his hands against the cold, recollects his mother’s statement: “We are allowed to be very angry, but we must never hate.”