Amsterdam mayor asks people to “look out for each other”; Full letter in English

“Let us look out for each other, keep each other safe, and care for each other,” was the plea from the Mayor of Amsterdam, Femke Halsema, to the city's residents after the violent incidents that have plagued the capital city in the last week.

Israeli and Jewish people were attacked in Amsterdam on November 7 after the Ajax-Maccabi Tel Aviv football match. This was followed by riots in the Nieuw-West district in the city, more threats of rioting there and in the eastern part of the city, and a banned demonstration of pro-Palestinian and anti-Israeli activists on Dam Square, with 281 people being arrested.

“We are looking back on a very drastic and sad week,” said Halsema in a statement that was published on Thursday. She emphasized the “fears and concerns” amongst the city’s Jewish population, the Palestine community, and the Moroccans in the city. “For them and actually for everyone who loves the city, it hurts to be an Amsterdammer at this moment.”

But in quoting Resistance fighter and journalist Henk van Randwijk, she reminded people that the Netherlands is deeply rooted in the rule of law, and respect for humanity. She asked people remember this, even amid times of anti-Semitism, racism, violence, and anger about the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Territories.

While Amsterdam today may look foreign to those who love the city, she asked residents to fight discrimination with protection and solidarity. She said "honesty and reasonableness" and "calm determination" are the best tools to fight "madness" or "incitement." She closed her letter to say, Let us look out for each other, keep each other safe, and care for each other. You will find me by your side!"

Mayor Femke Halsema's letter to Amsterdam residents after recent rioting and unrest

Dear Amsterdammers,

We can now look back on a very profound and sad week. There are fears and worries among our Jewish residents, the Palestinian community and Moroccan-Amsterdammers, and Muslims. For them, and actually for everyone who loves our city, it hurts to be an Amsterdammer at the moment.

The resistance fighter and journalist Henk van Randwijk once wrote about the Netherlands, "My nation is not a horde herded together for the sake of existing, and the desire for power, but a community rooted in law and humanity." These words have been a guiding principle for me for a very long time.

And they matter even more now, when we are confronted with a toxic cocktail of anti-Semitism, racism, hooliganism and great anger over the ongoing war in Palestine and Israel.

And that means that lawlessness will be met with law and punishment. That anti-Semitism will be met with protection and deep solidarity. That racism, [including racism] against Jews, Moroccans or Muslims, will not tolerated, not even when it is packaged together as a political stance. To counter madness, we bring honesty and rationality; And to counter incitement, we bring calm determination.

Perhaps it seemed otherwise because of the devastation wrought in our city.

But there are so many more of us!

We are the Amsterdammers who want to work together, who want to bring nuance to the public debate, and want to help keep the city peaceful. We are the Amsterdammers who act from hope, and from the realization that Amsterdam belongs to all of us.

Let us look out for each other, keep each other safe, and care for each other.

You will find me by your side!

Mayor Femke Halsema