Clutching white signs bearing handwritten calls for unity, participants placed white roses at the Anne Frank statue, near the house where she and others hid from Nazi oppression.
In the aftermath of what Amsterdam officials labeled as a “toxic mix” of hooliganism, antisemitism, and anger over the Israel-Palestine conflict, a group of European rabbis and imams convened in the city to promote peace.
“These roses symbolize unity for all Amsterdammers—Muslim, Jewish, or otherwise—and even for the rioters,” remarked Rabbi Eliezer Wolff, emphasizing love as the antidote to violence.
This modest gesture sought to address the tensions still gripping the city. Jewish and Muslim communities continued to voice concerns a week after violence erupted during a football match between Ajax and Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Both local residents and visitors appeared to play roles in the unrest.
Initial accounts indicated that on Wednesday, Maccabi fans tore down a Palestinian flag, set it ablaze, shouted slurs against Palestinians, attacked a taxi with belts, and vandalized others.
Subsequently, an online alert reportedly spurred taxi drivers to converge on a casino near Max Euweplein, where 400 Israeli fans had gathered. Police intervened to escort the fans from the premises.
On Thursday, central Dam Square saw clashes as Maccabi fans chanted anti-Arab slogans en route to the Johan Cruyff Arena. Police escorted 2,600 supporters to the match and dispersed individuals protesting outside the stadium despite a ban.
After Ajax’s 5-0 victory, assaults occurred, described by Mayor Femke Halsema as targeted “hit-and-run” attacks on Israeli fans. Reports and messages indicated some perpetrators sought out Jews specifically, asking for passports to confirm identities.
Halsema remarked that Maccabi supporters were both hunted and attacked due to antisemitic online calls but also noted incidents where they chanted hateful slogans at locals.
Five individuals required hospital treatment, and over 60 arrests were made, including 10 Israeli nationals. As the city assessed the turmoil, a report observed that uninvolved groups and communities were unfairly blamed.
Jewish residents expressed alarm over their safety, said Emile Schrijver, head of the Jewish Cultural Quarter, who noted a rising fear that antisemitic graffiti or violence might occur daily.
Muslim residents were equally shocked, stated Abdelkader Benali, a Moroccan-Dutch author, who described the unrest as a “tragic reflection of our times.”
European governments have faced growing challenges in mitigating local tensions over the Israel-Palestine conflict. In Amsterdam, provocations by Maccabi fans, including chants glorifying violence and inflammatory claims, heightened the unrest.
Benali noted that political and cultural tensions tied to the Middle East ignited uncontrolled hostility during the match, resulting in unacceptable acts of aggression against Jewish individuals.
The reaction to the incidents raised concerns within the Muslim community, already feeling marginalized after the electoral success of anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders.
On Monday, Amsterdam authorities announced an independent investigation into the violence and the official response.
Erev Rav, a Jewish anti-Zionist group, criticized police for failing to control provocations such as the destruction of Palestinian flags and racist chants, allowing the situation to escalate.
Initial global reactions framed the violence as an unprovoked antisemitic attack.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu likened it to Nazi-era Kristallnacht, while President Isaac Herzog labeled the unrest as an “antisemitic pogrom,” a term typically denoting organized violence against a particular group.
Dutch King Willem-Alexander acknowledged the failure to protect the Jewish community, echoing sentiments of national regret, while U.S. President Joe Biden condemned the violence as reminiscent of historical atrocities.
Some used the events to further political agendas. Wilders called for the deportation of attackers with dual nationality, amplifying existing tensions.
Writer Benjamin Moser noted that right-wing figures conflated critiques of Israel with antisemitism, exploiting the unrest for political gain.
Jaïr Stranders of the Liberal Jewish community challenged the characterization of the violence as a “pogrom,” emphasizing the need for accurate terminology.
He argued that fear-mongering by Israeli politicians and others leveraged antisemitism to alienate Muslims, worsening divisions.
Mustafa Hamurcu of IGMG Noord-Nederland lamented the eroded trust between communities, fearing efforts to build bridges were being undermined by those seeking to divide.
“Who gains from this?” asked Hamurcu, asserting that such events harm all communities in Amsterdam.
Schrijver called for dialogue, urging moderates to confront these challenges collaboratively and reject toxic divisions while acknowledging the severity of recent events.
