Amsterdam Mayor says she sees “looming collapse” of Dutch democratic order

Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema said Sunday evening that she sees “the looming collapse of a very civilized democratic order” in the Netherlands, citing rising political polarization and attacks on minority groups. She made the remarks during the television program Zomergasten.

Halsema emphasized that the country’s historical strength lies in its diversity. “The Netherlands has traditionally been a country of minorities. Precisely the fact that there is no absolute majority gives strength to a country, forcing it to reach compromises,” she said.

According to Halsema, this trend began after the September 11, 2001, attacks in the United States, which also affected perceptions of people with a Muslim background in the Netherlands. “A democratic society protects its minorities. Freedoms are first taken away from minorities,” she said.

She criticized the political center for failing to provide adequate “moral leadership” during that period, a shortfall she also acknowledged in herself. “Perhaps I should have done more, been more active, louder,” Halsema said, recalling her time as a GroenLinks member of the Tweede Kamer.

Halsema stressed that politicians and public officials should assess individuals based on their personal merits, opinions, and beliefs, rather than the groups to which they belong.

She also sharply criticized PVV leader Geert Wilders, referencing his controversial term “kopvoddentaks” aimed at Muslim women. “If you claim to stand up for women, you should not humiliate them. Very often, politics is conducted over the heads of women,” she said.