Amsterdam police arrested more than 60 people during nighttime violence after a Europa League football match, and an Israeli government plane flew into the Dutch capital on Friday afternoon to bring home fans of the losing Israeli team.
Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema described an “outbreak” of anti-Semitism that led to a “hit-and-run” attack on visiting Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters.
“Men on motorcycles were traveling around the city looking for Israeli fans. It was a hit-and-run. It was easy for me to understand and it reminded me of the Holocaust,” Halsema said.
“Our city has been devastated. Jewish culture is profoundly threatened. This is an outbreak of anti-Semitism that I hope to never see again,” she added.
Israeli and Dutch leaders condemned the “anti-Semitic” attacks, while a leading Jewish group said the Dutch capital should be “deeply ashamed”.
Police said on Friday they had “launched a major investigation into a number of violent incidents”, with five people taken to hospital and 62 arrested. There is no evidence of “kidnapping or hostage-taking” but police are “investigating the report”.
Amsterdam officials said supporters in several parts of the city were attacked, insulted and had fireworks thrown, and riot police had to intervene on multiple occasions to protect Israeli supporters and escort them to hotels.
Police said there were no reports of disturbance during Ajax’s 5-0 win over Maccabi at the Johan Cruyff Stadium and fans left the stadium without incident.
After the game, residents and businesses in Amsterdam were alarmed by what appeared to be organized locals chasing small groups of Israeli fans through central Amsterdam.
Theodoor van Boven, owner of the Condomerie near Warmoesstraat Dam Square, said he saw gangs apparently hunting and chasing opposing fans. “What we see on the streets in the evening and at night are groups of people, usually Dutch, who are out hunting and looking for Maccabi fans. They are walking in groups, riding motorcycles, patrolling everywhere, calling each other –this [seemed to be] Organized.
“They see everyone wearing yellow clothes [Maccabi Tel Aviv’s home-strip colour]”They came at us,” a young woman named Pnina told Dutch public broadcaster at Schiphol Airport. She said her team was holed up in the hotel “until it was safe to get out.”
Another fan who left, Ron, said it had been a “terrible night” and “very scary”.
A police spokesman said there were “incidents on both sides” on Wednesday night.
He added: “Maccabi supporters removed a flag from the facade of Rokin and destroyed a taxi. A Palestinian flag was set on fire at the dam. Unverified video posted on social media Some Maccabi fans appear to be shown chanting in Hebrew: “Destroy the Arabs! We will win!”
Barbara Weenink, a resident of Amsterdam, said she found the Israeli fans’ behavior threatening. Weinink, who has demonstrated at pro-Palestinian events, said she was warned not to go out wearing a headscarf that night. She didn’t see what happened after the game, but met Israeli fans before the game. “I saw Israeli fans coming here before the game – I felt very threatening,” she said.
The conflict in Gaza has heightened tensions in communities across Europe, with a surge in anti-Semitic insults and attacks. Islamophobic incidents have also reached record levels.
In a statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office described “planned anti-Semitic attacks against Israeli citizens” and called for increased security for the Jewish community in the Netherlands.
Netanyahu canceled plans announced earlier on Friday to send two military rescue planes to Amsterdam, and Jerusalem officials said the effort would focus on using commercial airlines, mainly Israel’s national carrier El Al.
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El Al said on Friday morning that the first flight would depart from Amsterdam to Tel Aviv on Friday afternoon after receiving special permission from Jewish religious authorities to operate on the Sabbath, with more free flights continuing into Saturday if necessary.
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schof said he was “shocked by the anti-Semitic attacks against Israeli civilians” which were “completely unacceptable”. He said he had spoken to Netanyahu by phone and “stressed that the perpetrators will be identified and prosecuted.”
Geert Wilders, leader of the far-right Freedom Party, the largest in the Dutch ruling coalition, criticized the Dutch government’s “lack of urgency” in a social media post on Friday. He wrote: “Why no additional cabinet meeting? Where is the sense of urgency?
Wilders is known for his anti-Muslim stance and holds no official position in the government.
Leaders of Dutch Jewish organizations noted that the violence occurred on a night when the Dutch Jewish community commemorates Kristallnacht, the 1938 state-sanctioned pogrom and massacre in Nazi Germany and controlled territories that paved the way for the Holocaust. Leveled the road.
Chanan Hertzberger, chairman of the Central Jewish Council, described how “anti-Semitic gangs, under the guise of anti-Zionism, have been trying for some time to make life impossible for Jews in the Netherlands”.
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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she was “outraged” by the “despicable attack on Israeli citizens in Amsterdam”, while European football’s governing body UEFA said it strongly condemned “these incidents and acts of violence”. The United Nations called the violence “very disturbing”, while German Foreign Minister Annalena Berbock said it was “horrible” and “extremely shameful”.
Deborah Lipstadt, the U.S. special envoy on anti-Semitism, said in a tweet that she was “deeply disturbed” by the attacks and called for an investigation.
Ajax issued a brief statement condemning the violence, saying: “Following a football match with a good atmosphere at our stadium, where we thank all parties involved for their good cooperation, we are shocked to learn that What happened last night in the center of Amsterdam.
