Thousands rally in Amsterdam’s Dam Square against racism and far-right policies

More than 10,000 demonstrators packed Dam Square on Saturday in a massive protest against racism and fascism, according to an ANP reporter. Protesters held signs reading “Never Again” and “Fact or Faber?” while Palestinian flags waved throughout the crowd, underscoring the range of concerns driving the protest.

The demonstration, organized by Comité 21 Maart, coincided with the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. This year’s march took on an even sharper tone, with organizers warning of rising fascism in the Netherlands. “There are citizens here who are tired of this government,” said event coordinator Abdou Menebhi. He accused the Dutch cabinet of enacting “anti-democratic measures against Muslims and asylum seekers” and deliberately sowing division among societal groups.

A speaker from Kick Out Zwarte Piet, an organization that has long fought against racial injustice, took the stage to stress the decision to explicitly name fascism in this year’s protest. “Away with this racist and far-right cabinet,” she declared, met with thunderous applause. Mitchell Esajas, also of Kick Out Zwarte Piet, recalled the massive anti-racism protest that filled Dam Square in 2020. “We still hear the echoes of the colonial past. That must stop,” he said.

Among those present were first-time demonstrators Isa and Nienke, who stood near the National Monument with protest signs. “Parties are shifting further to the right,” Isa told ANP, arguing that even GroenLinks, traditionally considered progressive, had moved in that direction. Nienke pointed to Dutch policies on Gaza and asylum as key motivations for attending. “The so-called asylum crisis was manufactured—first by this cabinet, but also by Rutte’s government before it. It’s shocking how quickly people lose their sense of humanity,” she said.

Political banners from GroenLinks, PvdA, SP, BIJ1, and Partij voor de Dieren were visible throughout the square. Other organizations involved included Amnesty International, Nederlands Palestina Komitee, Een Ander Joods Geluid, and the Collectief tegen Islamofobie en Discriminatie.

Among the demonstrators was a group of about 500 people protesting repression in Turkey. They first gathered at Beursplein before merging with the larger anti-racism march. Their protest was sparked by the recent arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu.

A 30-year-old Turkish student from Wageningen, who requested anonymity for fear of reprisals if she returns to Turkey, said demonstrators supported protests that erupted in Turkey following İmamoğlu’s detention. “It’s hard to estimate our numbers here because we’ve blended into the larger protest,” she told ANP.

At 3 p.m., the crowd marched from Dam Square toward Museumplein, continuing their demonstration.