Amsterdam mayor, politicians condemn anti-zionist chants at Paradiso concert

A Saturday concert by British punk-rap duo Bob Vylan at Paradiso in Amsterdam sparked widespread outrage, condemnation from Jewish groups, and scrutiny from Dutch authorities.

According to De Telegraaf, during the performance, frontman Bobby Vylan shouted, “Fuck the fascists, fuck the Zionists. Find them on the streets.” He added, “We are not anti-Semites, we are anti-Zionist,” and praised the killing of U.S. conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The crowd repeatedly chanted “Death, death to the IDF!,” a slogan already under investigation in the U.K.

Mayor Femke Halsema said artistic freedom has limits. “Artistic freedom can never mean that concertgoers or Amsterdammers feel threatened, or that there is a call to hatred or violence,” she stated Sunday. At least 30 reports were filed with police regarding the concert.

PVV leader Geert Wilders called the performance “insane” and demanded Paradiso’s closure if it condones the chants. D66 leader Rob Jetten labeled the remarks “completely deranged.” JA21 leader Joost Eerdmans said it was “incitement to violence and possibly criminal.” BBB leader Caroline van der Plas said she “vomits” at the crowd’s cheering and announced her party will submit parliamentary questions.

Nijmegen Mayor Herman Bruls said he sees “no reason to act” for now, though he called the remarks tasteless. “In our country there is freedom of expression. The limits are guarded by the Public Prosecution Service,” he said.

A prosecution service spokesperson confirmed that no investigation has started but that prosecutors will review the remarks this week. “We must first establish exactly what was said and in what context. Then we will assess whether it is criminal,” she said.

Justice Minister Foort van Oosten added that it is up to the Public Prosecution Service to determine “what steps are appropriate” following the performance. He did not comment on requests by coalition party BBB to use ministerial authority to bar the performer from entering the Netherlands.

The Centraal Joods Overleg (Central Jewish Council) called the performance “a call for another pogrom” and said it will try to stop the band’s shows in Nijmegen on Monday and Tilburg on Tuesday. A pogrom is a violent attack against a particular ethnic or religious group.

The Dutch Jewish organization CIDI and the Israeli embassy also expressed outrage. VVD MP Ulysse Ellian called the event a “terrible display” and said his party asked the cabinet what action could be taken against hate speech, antisemitism, or incitement to violence. Van Oosten emphasized that “for hate speech and antisemitism, there is no place in the Netherlands.”