Amsterdam is on edge again as the city grapples with mounting violence and tensions that seem to be spiraling out of control. Following a series of disturbing incidents targeting Israeli soccer fans, the city is now facing more unrest, and law enforcement is warning that more rioting could be in the pipeline. Just last night, rioters armed with sticks and firecrackers set a tram on fire, causing chaos in the streets. Authorities are scrambling to contain the situation, but frankly, it seems like they’re playing catch-up as the violence spreads and more people are drawn into the fray.
Riots have broken out again in Amsterdam tonight. Rioters are damaging property and shouting “Kankerjoden,” which means “Cancer Jews.”
To Amsterdam’s Jews, please stay safe. Don’t go outside.
To the rest of the world, look at what you’ve done.
You can deny it all you want, but… pic.twitter.com/nlICoalTgo
— Hen Mazzig (@HenMazzig) November 11, 2024
What started as tensions around a soccer match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv has blown up into a full-blown crisis. Ahead of the game, the city’s leaders, including Mayor Femke Halsema, opted not to ban the event but instead beefed up security. Pro-Palestinian protests were banned from gathering near the stadium to prevent clashes, but the situation spiraled out of control anyway. Even before the game, police reports show that threats were circulating on social media, and Israeli fans found themselves targeted by aggressive mobs.
The post-game violence quickly took on an ugly, antisemitic tone. According to reports, mobs were roaming the city, seemingly hunting down Maccabi fans in what police are calling “a Jew hunt.” Those who were unlucky enough to encounter these groups were reportedly asked about their nationality, and some were subjected to beatings if they were identified as Israeli. Police are now calling these incidents explicitly antisemitic, and Prime Minister Dick Schoof has had to meet with Amsterdam’s Jewish community to address rising concerns over safety.
As if the situation couldn’t get any worse, social media is fueling the flames, with videos surfacing that capture antisemitic slurs and acts of vandalism. Despite a hefty police presence and multiple arrests, the violence shows no signs of slowing. Authorities have detained eight individuals and taken forensic evidence, but that’s just scratching the surface. With over 170 witnesses identified and plenty of footage to review, Amsterdam’s police force has its hands full as they try to make sense of who’s responsible for what in this whirlwind of unrest.
To keep a lid on things, Mayor Halsema has now banned all demonstrations and declared several areas as “risk zones,” allowing police to stop and check anyone in those areas. But even with these measures, the city remains volatile. Protests continue to pop up despite bans, and police are struggling to disperse crowds without sparking further violence.
There’s a larger issue at play here, too. Antisemitism in Europe has been steadily rising since the conflict in Gaza escalated, and Amsterdam’s recent troubles are just the latest sign of this troubling trend. People might try to blame soccer or the city’s heated political climate, but the truth is that unchecked antisemitic violence is spreading across Europe, and cities like Amsterdam are bearing the brunt.
When you import the third world, you become the third world.
A tough lesson Amsterdam and all of Europe are grappling with. pic.twitter.com/2Mn7bHSJ77
— Brigitte Gabriel (@ACTBrigitte) November 8, 2024
The Netherlands, a country known for its tolerance, now finds itself wrestling with disturbing questions about how to balance free speech with public safety and how to combat a resurgence of hate that’s targeting communities within its own borders. In the meantime, though, it’s clear that the situation in Amsterdam is far from under control, and unless the city’s leaders can get a handle on it fast, the rest of us may be looking at another cycle of riots and resentment that’ll keep Europe on edge.
“Pro Palestine” mob in Amsterdam doing what they do all across our towns and cities.
Deport them all to Gaza. pic.twitter.com/WCoX0OnOke
— Tommy Robinson 🇬🇧 (@TRobinsonNewEra) May 27, 2024
