Amsterdam protester arrested for vandalizing WWII memorial during Pro-Palestinian march

A 24-year-old Amsterdam man was arrested Saturday after spraying graffiti on the National Monument on the Dam during a pro-Palestinian demonstration, police said. The monument stands in remembrance of Dutch victims of World War II.

The demonstrator sprayed the words “Never again is now” on the monument, prompting immediate police intervention. An on-site ANP photographer confirmed the arrest.

A spokesperson for the International Socialists, one of the organizations behind the protest, said the defacement was separate from the demonstration. She described it as “tasteless” but added that “not necessarily a boundary has been crossed.” She noted that no permanent damage had been done, saying, “It can be cleaned.” She also emphasized, “Everyone has the right to speak out against the genocide by Israel on the Palestinians.”

Between 1,500 and 2,000 demonstrators marched through Amsterdam, protesting what they described as the Israeli military’s violence against Gaza residents, which they called genocide.

Participants carried coffins and bulletproof vests marked “PRESS” that appeared stained with blood, and they paid tribute to journalists recently killed in Israeli attacks.

The march began on the Dam, continued through the city center, and concluded at Museumplein. Despite loud chants and visible anger over the monument defacement, police described the demonstration as largely orderly.