Wilders says A'dam mayor can leave NL with pro-Palestine "scum"; 320 protesters arrested

In response to a photo of a pro-Palestine demonstration, PVV leader Geert Wilders posted on X that “that scum” should be expelled from the Netherlands. “And Halsema can go along,” the PVV leader said about Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema. A total of around 320 protesters were arrested in Amsterdam on Monday.

Utrecht mayor Sharon Dijksma has defended her colleague on social media. She called on the Cabinet to distance itself from Wilders’ statement. “I find it completely irresponsible that Geert Wilders makes this statement at the expense of our colleague Femke Halsema and at the expense of us as office holders who do their work in good faith within the boundaries of the rule of law,” Dijksma wrote. “This undermines the authority of mayors and is completely out of proportion.”

On Monday, the one-year anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel was commemorated on Dam Square in Amsterdam, among other places. A pro-Palestinian counter-demonstration was also permitted in the area under certain conditions.

Halsema said that counter-demonstrations fall under the fundamental right to demonstrate, within sight and hearing distance of the goal of their demonstration. “Whether you agree or not: these are the rules that we have agreed on in this country. As long as it is peaceful.”

According to Dijksma, all parties in parliament must “stand up for the rule of law and our constitutional freedoms.” She says that mayors seek a balance for this every day and that the law is leading in facilitating demonstrations. “Even if it leads to a lot of emotions.”

Demonstrations in Amsterdam got out of hand and the riot police intervened, arresting around 320 people.

About 300 pro-Palestinian demonstrators were arrested for not complying with the regulations of the Public Demonstrations Act. It involved a group of activists who wanted to enter Dam Square via Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal after mayor Halsema had ended their demonstration. The police managed to prevent this and took the demonstrators by bus to a location in Amsterdam-Noord, where they were released again.

The other 20 or so demonstrators were arrested during the day for “all kinds of offenses” such as insults and setting off fireworks. It is unclear whether any of them are pro-Palestinian. They were transferred to a cell complex. It is unclear how many of them stayed in custody overnight.

In a statement, Halsema stressed the fundamental right to demonstrate, but that it must happen within the framework and boundaries of the law. Otherwise, the authorities will intervene. “Unfortunately, that was the case today,” said the mayor.

She called the incidents that occurred on Monday such as “deliberately seeking confrontation with other demonstrators or police, blocking trams, and not following the authorities' instructions” of a “completely different order and unacceptable.”

Halsema also reported that the commemoration of the victims of the “brutal and violent attack by Hamas” a year ago “was able to proceed peacefully and safely, with the exception of a few brief disruptions.” According to her, it was a “charged and emotional day, especially for Jewish Amsterdammers.”