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A recent surge of antisemitic incidents across the Netherlands, including calls for violence, public displays of support for Hamas, marches with demonstrators dressed as terrorists, and a series of explosions at Jewish institutions, have put the country’s Jewish population on edge, particularly in Amsterdam, the center of Dutch Jewish life.
In response, the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) has sent an official letter to Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema, calling for clear and decisive municipal action to counter antisemitic incitement and protect her city’s Jewish community.
The full text of the letter to Mayor Halsema follows:
Dear Mayor Halsema,
I am writing to you with deep concern following recent incidents that took place in Amsterdam, which reflect a troubling escalation in public expressions of antisemitism and incitement to violence.
On March 30, demonstrators were heard chanting slogans such as “From the Netherlands to Palestine,” an evolution of rhetoric that extends beyond political expression and signals a broader and deeply alarming call targeting Jewish communities across Europe and Israel. The following day, on March 31, individuals reportedly marched openly through the city dressed as Hamas terrorists, carrying banners promoting Hamas propaganda and calling for violence against Jews — in broad daylight. The normalization of such imagery and messaging in a European capital is profoundly concerning.
These incidents occur alongside a series of other troubling developments: on March 14, an explosive device detonated outside a Jewish school in Buitenveldert, causing material damage; the following day, a similar explosion was reported at a synagogue in Rotterdam; and on April 3, Dutch police reported an explosion at the Israel Center in Nijkerk. While no injuries were reported in these cases, they contribute to a growing climate of insecurity affecting Jewish communities and demonstrate that this trend extends beyond Amsterdam.
These incidents are unfortunately not isolated and reflect a broader normalization of extremist rhetoric in public space. As CEO of the Combat Antisemitism Movement, I feel a responsibility to raise this concern — particularly in a city long recognized for its commitment to tolerance, pluralism, and fundamental freedoms. Clear and decisive action is needed to ensure that incitement to violence and the glorification of terrorist organizations have no place in Amsterdam or elsewhere in the Netherlands.
I trust that you will treat this matter with the seriousness it warrants and take the necessary steps to address these developments.
Respectfully,
Sacha Roytman
Chief Executive Officer, Combat Antisemitism Movement
A copy of the letter can be read HERE.
