The National Holocaust Museum was officially opened in Amsterdam on Sunday, but the occasion did not go off without a hitch. Massed pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered outside the building, chanting slogans and attacking the police. The protesters specifically objected to the presence of Israeli President Isaac Herzog at the ceremony.
The video below gives a brief account of what happened. Many thanks to Gary Fouse for the translation, and to Vlad Tepes and RAIR Foundation for the subtitling:
Below is an article from Algemeen Dagblad about the confrontation at the Holocaust Museum, also translated by Gary Fouse:
Holocaust museum opened in grim atmosphere, riot police have to keep demonstrators away
Update: King Willem-Alexander was greeted with boos today upon his arrival at the Holocaust Museum in Amsterdam and at his departure. The atmosphere in the demonstration on Waterloo Square became grim. Demonstrators are angry over the presence of the Israeli President, Isaac Herzog. Thirteen demonstrators were arrested.
Domestic editorial staff, March 10
During the condoning off between Waterloo Square and Visserplein in Amsterdam by police, several demonstrators climbed onto the police buses that were set up as a cordon. The police beat them away with batons. Later, the activists set off fireworks. Those flew over the cordon that police put up there.
Demonstrators then threw fireworks and eggs over the police buses at the police. On the buses, the demonstrators glued pamphlets with the head of the Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, with the text: “Wanted”.
Groups of demonstrators challenged each other in front of the door of the Holocaust Museum. A group of Palestinian supporters shouted slogans such as “shame on you” to a dozen pro-Israel demonstrators in an adjacent section. Who, for their part, defiantly waved Israeli flags.
In the pro-Israel section hangs a banner with photos of people who were abducted on October 7. The police come between both parties to calm the mood down. The atmosphere has now become grim. Police buses were shaken back and forth by demonstrators.
Around 3pm peace is restored in Amsterdam. A total of 13 demonstrators were arrested. The arrests were carried out, among other things, for disturbing public order and vandalism, such as throwing rocks and the destruction of a police bus. All suspects are still in custody and are being questioned, the police report. Among the suspects is a minor, according to a spokesperson.
Herzog calls for the hostages to be freed
In his speech at the opening of the Holocaust Museum, Herzog called for the release of Jewish hostages being held in Gaza. He feels that the Holocaust Museum is a reminder of “the horrors that come from anti-Semitism”. “Hate and anti-Semitism are now flourishing worldwide.” Herzog also said in his speech that “too many Dutch people” helped the Nazis, but he also spoke of the Dutch people who protected persecuted Jews.
King Willem-Alexander said in his speech at the opening of the National Holocaust Museum that “people must remain aware how the Holocaust began and how it went from bad to worse.” He described how the Sobibor Extermination Camp “began with a sign in the Vondelpark” on which was written “Forbidden for Jews”.
“This museum shows us how it happened, not so long ago,” said Willem-Alexander. The king presented a mezuzah to the great-granddaughter of the Holocaust survivor Rudie Cortissos. A mezuzah is a text casing with a fragment from the Torah, which according to Jewish customs, is placed on the doorpost of a Jewish home. Upon his arrival and departure from the Holocaust Museum, the king was treated to boos.
Protesters outside could be heard clearly in the synagogue as Willem-Alexander spoke. In the house of worship the chants of the protesters could be heard. What exactly they were yelling was not clear.