Open letter against anti-Semitism signed by 329 of 342 mayors of Dutch cities

Almost all mayors in the Netherlands signed an open letter against the recent rise of anti-Semitism. The City of Amsterdam released the letter on behalf of 329 mayors on Friday morning. “Let us continue to oppose any form of discrimination and racism,” the letter stated.

The Netherlands has 342 municipalities, and it is not yet clear why 13 mayors did not add their name to the letter. It was not signed by the mayors of Bergeijk, Den Helder, Dronten, Edam-Volendam, Gemert-Bakel, Horst aan de Maas, Nijkerk, Roerdalen, Someren, Teylingen, Vlaardingen, Zaanstad and Zeewolde.

The letter argues that anti-Semitism is not something new or an attitude related only to recent events, “but an age-old form of racism that, if we do nothing, will be passed on from generation to generation.” The mayors wrote that anti-Semitism never went away after World War II, and that anti-Semitic incidents increased even more after October 7, when Hamas attacked Israel, followed by the war in Gaza.

“Online, on the street, in the classroom, at the sports club and at our research and applied sciences universities: Everywhere, Jewish residents of cities and towns experience anti-Jewish intimidation and aggression.”

The mayors expressed their disgust at the terrorist attack carried out by Hamas on October 7. They are also “horrified” by the “gigantic numbers of civilian deaths in Gaza,” they wrote. “Criticism of the Israeli government is not anti-Semitism, but it is when Jewish people are held responsible for the actions of that government just because they are Jewish. Intimidating, abusing or even physically attacking Jewish people is anti-Semitic and criminally punishable.”

The 329 mayors wrote the letter not only as municipal authorities and leaders responsible for law enforcement, but also as the most recognizable residents of their municipalities. “In that role, we call on our fellow citizens to take each other into account. Not to push the boundaries of what is permissible,” they stated.

“We ask our fellow citizens not to use slogans that hurt and intimidate others. To avoid inappropriate comparisons with the Holocaust or Nazism, which is deeply painful for survivors” of the War.

The signatories further said that volunteers are busy in all Dutch cities and towns these days in preparation for the commemoration of “our” dead on May 4, and the celebration of freedom on Liberation Day on May 5. “We call on all our residents to respect that important and valuable tradition.”