Pro-Palestinian protester arrested in Amsterdam as 37,000 prepare to rally in The Hague

At least one pro-Palestinian demonstrator was arrested Sunday morning during a protest in Amsterdam marking the 50th anniversary celebration of the Center for Information and Documentation on Israel (Centrum Informatie en Documentatie Israël, or CIDI). Meanwhile, tens of thousands are expected to gather later in The Hague for a large demonstration against the Dutch government’s Israel policy.

Police moved to disperse the protest around 11 a.m. near the Royal Tropical Institute (Koninklijk Instituut voor de Tropen, or KIT) in Amsterdam, where the CIDI celebration was taking place. Protesting at the KIT was banned by Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema. Instead, she designated a protest area a short distance away, across the canal.

At the protest’s peak, about 100 demonstrators chanted slogans critical of Israel. By 11 a.m., that number had dropped to around 20. NOS reported that the KIT building was vandalized with red paint.

Police, present in large numbers, warned protesters they would be forcibly moved to Alexanderplein if they did not leave voluntarily, cautioning that arrests could follow. The relocation began peacefully but briefly turned unrestful. Shortly after 11:30 a.m., a small group of protesters remained at Alexanderplein under police watch, although most officers had left the area. A spokesperson confirmed that at least one protester had been taken into custody.

CIDI frequently engages in public discourse to support Israel. The organization stresses that Israel is engaged in conflict with the terrorist group Hamas, while also expressing criticism of some of the most extreme figures within the Israeli government.

Malieveld protest

In the meantime, organizers announced that over 37,000 people had registered to participate in a demonstration against the cabinet’s policy on Israel. The event begins at 1 p.m. on the Malieveld in The Hague and will proceed to the Vredespaleis.

Demonstrators were urged by the organizers, which include Amnesty International, to wear red clothing to form a symbolic "red line" against the government’s stance. The municipality of The Hague advised attendees to use public transport or bicycles to mitigate expected crowding in the city center.

At Utrecht Centraal station, an ANP reporter observed crowded conditions with many people dressed in red waiting to travel to The Hague demonstration. Some trains were reportedly full, and not all demonstrators could board immediately.

Similar scenes were reported at Arnhem station, where large groups clad in red awaited trains heading to The Hague. A reporter also noted a heavily packed train traveling from Rotterdam to The Hague with many passengers in red attire.

A spokesperson for NS said conditions at Den Haag Centraal station were comparable to a typical rush hour. “We also see people lingering at the station since the demonstration only begins at 1 p.m.,” the spokesperson added. They noted that the station’s restrooms were especially busy.

The spokesperson did not confirm reports that some passengers were unable to board trains immediately. “There may be peak moments in Utrecht,” they said. However, NS runs frequent services between Utrecht and Den Haag Centraal. If trains are full, passengers are asked to wait for the next one.