Pro-Palestinian protesters have been accused of preventing Jews from mourning ‘humanity’s darkest hour’ after activists staged a large demonstration today at the opening of a new National Holocaust Museum in Amsterdam.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Dutch King Willem Alexander officially opened the first Holocaust Museum in the Netherlands, but the day was marred by demonstrators who threw fireworks and climbed into police vans while calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Thousands of protesters gathered near the museum and Portuguese Synagogue on Waterlooplein in central Amsterdam amid tight security, waving Palestinian flags and chanting: “From the rivers to the sea, Palestine will be free.”
The protest leaders emphasized that they were demonstrating against Mr. Herzog’s presence, and not against the museum and what it commemorates. Amid a sea of Palestinian placards, there was also a group of people waving Israeli flags.
A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism told MailOnline: ‘Nothing is sacred to these people. Jews and those who care about history apparently cannot be allowed to mourn and reflect on humanity’s darkest hour without being harassed or intimidated.
‘In the discourse of the extreme left and their Islamic allies it is forbidden to regard the Jews as victims. Any mention of the Holocaust must be accompanied by a baseless and grossly insulting claim that the Jews committed one themselves.
Pro-Palestinian activists have organized a large demonstration outside the National Holocaust Museum in Amsterdam
Police officers intervene after a demonstrator climbed onto a mobile unit van during a demonstration
Protesters took to the streets on the same day a National Holocaust Museum opened
Israeli President Isaac Herzog leaves after a visit to the National Holocaust Museum on the day of its opening
King Willem-Alexander (R) receives a tour as part of the opening of the National Holocaust Museum in Amsterdam
“As we see all too often, this is not far from claiming that the genocide of the Jews never happened.
‘People who don’t respect history will never be able to learn from it. That’s why they behave the way they do towards the Jews. These people are a disgrace and should be treated as such.”
King Willem-Alexander said during a solemn meeting in a nearby synagogue, where Dutch Holocaust survivors were also present: “This museum shows us the devastating consequences anti-Semitism can have.”
President Herzog said the museum “issued a clear and strong statement: Remember, remember the horrors born of hatred, anti-Semitism and racism and never allow them to flourish again.”
‘Unfortunately never again, now. Because right now, hatred and anti-Semitism are flourishing worldwide and we must fight them together,” the president added.
It comes as tens of thousands of protesters marched in central London yesterday – the tenth demonstration in central London since Israel began its military campaign in Gaza following the October 7 attacks by Hamas terrorists.
The president called for the “immediate and safe return” of the hostages taken by Hamas in the October 7 attacks and urged the congregation to “pray for peace.”
Less than a mile away, protests took place against Herzog’s appearance at the ceremonies, organized by Jewish groups, among others, pushing for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
Hundreds gathered waving Palestinian flags and banners and shouting “Never Again Is Now,” a reference to their belief that Israel is committing genocide in Palestinian territory.
When the dignitaries arrived at the museum, they shouted slogans such as “Liberate Free Palestine.”
King Willem Alexander walks out of the National Holocaust Museum on the day of its opening
Demonstrators protest against Israeli President Isaac Herzog attending the opening of the new National Holocaust Museum in Amsterdam
Protesters wave Palestinian flags and sing chants outside the Holocaust museum
Groups of Israelis and Palestinians were in the same area where police were trying to keep the peace
Protesters set off some fireworks as Dutch riot police form a line during a protest against the presence of Israeli President Isaac Herzog
Protesters said they could not stand by as the war in Gaza raged on
“There is only one place for him here and that is the ICC,” said Estelle Jilissen, a 25-year-old consultant, referring to the International Criminal Court that tries suspected war criminals.
Protesters had hung signs on lampposts along the route that read: ‘Detour to the International Criminal Court’.
“Many Jewish people are also against his coming here because the pain of their ancestors, the suffering of their ancestors, is tarnished by the arrival of this president,” Jilissen said.
Health officials in Gaza say nearly 31,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched its offensive there in response to an Oct. 7 attack by Hamas fighters on southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking 253 hostage, according to Israeli figures.
The Dutch Jewish anti-Zionist organization Erev Rave, which organized the protest together with the Dutch Palestinian Community and Socialists International, said that while it honors the memory of the victims of the Holocaust, it could not stand by while the war in Gaza continued.
Facing international criticism of its campaign, Israel has insisted it did not start the war and has made every effort to minimize civilian casualties, blaming Hamas for the fighting in densely populated areas.
Some of Herzog’s comments have been cited by South Africa in the International Court of Justice case against Israel. He has said that not just militants but “an entire nation” were responsible for the October 7 attack and that Israel will fight “until we break their spine.”
Herzog has said that his comments were misrepresented, and that only part of what he said was quoted to build a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, which after discussion ordered Israel to take action to end genocide in the Gaza Strip preventable, but only stopped doing so. called for an immediate ceasefire.
Before Herzog became president, which is a largely ceremonial role, he headed Israel’s Labor Party, which has historically been an advocate for making peace with the Palestinians.
King Willem Alexander receives a tour of the National Holocaust Museum in Amsterdam
Protesters were seen walking along the route holding signs reading: ‘Detour to the International Criminal Court’.
Protesters carry signs during a demonstration calling Israel’s military campaign in Gaza ‘genocide’
People attend the opening of the National Holocaust Museum in Amsterdam
The museum told media that it invited Herzog before the Hamas attack and Israel’s subsequent offensive in Gaza.
A statement acknowledged that Herzog’s presence raised questions, but added that he represented the homeland of Dutch Holocaust survivors who emigrated to Israel.
Nazi Germany murdered six million Jews during World War II. Three quarters of the Dutch Jewish population, 102,000 people, were murdered by the Nazis, the highest percentage in Western Europe.
Until now, the Netherlands had never had a national museum dedicated to those who died.
