Arnhem mayor invites Kanye West to Holocaust Museum after failed bid to block shows
Arnhem Mayor Ahmed Marcouch has invited Ye, who previously went by Kanye West, to visit the National Holocaust Museum in Amsterdam between the American rapper’s two Dutch concerts and later lay a wreath with the chief rabbi at the Names Monument, saying the gesture would send a message against antisemitism.
Ye is scheduled to perform in Arnhem on Saturday and again on Monday. He has faced criticism over antisemitic and pro-Nazi remarks. Earlier this year, he apologized for those statements and attributed his behavior to bipolar disorder and brain damage.
The Central Jewish Council (CJO) unsuccessfully sought a court order this week to block the rapper from coming to the Netherlands. A court in Amsterdam rejected the request, allowing the performances to go ahead. The Dutch government had also previously refused to block his entry.
Marcouch confirmed through a spokesman that the proposal had been submitted to the organizer of Ye’s concerts at GelreDome in Arnhem. No response had been received as of Saturday morning.
Speaking to de Volkskrant, the mayor said such a visit would be “a statement for a million-strong audience. A statement against antisemitism.”
Concerts on his current tour were canceled in the United Kingdom and Switzerland because of his earlier remarks, while recent shows in the United States and Turkey proceeded without incident.
Three demonstrations are expected around Saturday evening’s concert, including one organized by the Center for Information and Documentation Israel and two by individuals. The protests are scheduled for 4:30 p.m., 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. Protesters have been assigned a location on the northwest side of GelreDome.
CIDI expects about 100 people to attend its demonstration. Director Naomi Mestrum said participants plan to make themselves heard with signs and banners.
Marcouch said authorities would not allow demonstrators to stand directly in front of the stadium’s main entrance. “We will not permit that. We must guarantee the safety of the 40,000 visitors,” the mayor said.
He previously promised protesters a location where they would be “visible and audible for what they are demonstrating against.”
