Dutch King meets with gov't advisor on anti-Semitism following Amsterdam riots
Dutch King Willem-Alexander met with Eddo Verdoner, the National Coordinator for Combating Anti-Semitism (NCAB), on Thursday, the government information service RVD confirmed.
Verdoner is the Minister of Justice’s advisor on tackling anti-Semitism. The King likely went to him for a briefing on the violence in Amsterdam surrounding the Ajax vs Maccabi Tel Aviv football match.
Willem-Alexander returned from a working visit to Denmark and Norway on Thursday. Upon his return, he said that the unrest in Amsterdam hurt him, but he did not know enough about what was going on to comment on it.
Last week, the King shared in a message on social media that he had spoken to Israeli President Herzog about the riots in Amsterdam that started after the Ajax-Maccabi Tel Aviv football match last Thursday and continued into early Friday morning. Israelis were chased and assaulted by small groups of rioters in various places in the city. Anti-Semitic insults can be heard in videos of the incidents. There is also footage of Maccabi supporters instigating violence against Amsterdam locals.
Willem-Alexander e said he was "shocked" by the violence against Israeli supporters who were in the Netherlands for the Europa League match. "We must not look away from antisemitic behavior on our streets. History has taught us how intimidation goes from bad to worse, with horrific consequences. Jewish people must feel safe in the Netherlands, everywhere, and at all times. We embrace them all and hold them close," Willem-Alexander said at the time on social media.
