Amsterdam authorities enacted an emergency order over the weekend to ban demonstrations, mobilizing additional police forces following a series of antisemitic attacks on Israeli soccer fans earlier in the week.
The emergency order prohibited face masks and face coverings and heightened security around Jewish institutions. It also granted police the authority to stop and search individuals.
The violent incidents unfolded during the week leading up to a soccer match on Thursday between Ajax, a Dutch team, and Maccabi Tel Aviv, an Israeli team. Tensions escalated after Israeli fans vandalized a taxi and burned a Palestinian flag the day before the game. Following the match, scooter riders attacked and assaulted Israeli fans, resulting in some requiring hospitalization.
Initially, police detained 62 individuals; however, by Saturday, most had been released, with four remaining in custody, all suspected of public violence. One suspect, a 26-year-old, was arrested after being identified from CCTV footage.
Marijke Stor, a Dutch police spokeswoman, noted that releasing individuals does not absolve them of suspicion and that the investigation remains active with potential for further arrests. No formal charges have yet been filed.
Prior to the match, pro-Palestinian protests were scheduled for Thursday. However, Amsterdam's mayor, Femke Halsema, preemptively banned demonstrations near the stadium to prevent violence.
Video footage from Thursday depicted Israeli fans shouting anti-Arab slogans while being escorted by police for safety due to surrounding tensions related to the Gaza conflict. The police deployed 800 officers to maintain order during the match, which, although conducted without major incidents, saw confrontations in the city center.
Reports indicate that individuals on scooters attacked Israeli fans with kicks and beatings, along with being targeted by fireworks. Five Israelis were hospitalized with injuries but were later discharged, while 20 to 30 others sustained minor injuries.
Dutch Justice and Security Minister David van Weel admitted the police were unprepared for the nature of the attacks, which involved small groups rather than large-scale clashes typically expected after soccer matches.
Social media was noted as a contributing factor to the violence, with Mayor Halsema mentioning a rapid communication spread via Telegram groups prior to the attacks.
On the same day, Amsterdam also marked the 86th anniversary of Kristallnacht, a historical event of violence against Jews in 1938. Concerns were raised regarding heightened tensions due to this commemoration; however, the national counterterrorism agency did not identify any specific threats and did not alter the national threat level.
In a letter to lawmakers, Minister van Weel announced an investigation into any potential warnings from Israeli intelligence prior to the match.
In response to safety concerns, the Israeli government advised its citizens in Amsterdam to avoid public areas and refrain from displaying Israeli or Jewish symbols, while facilitating flights for those wishing to return home.
Gideon Saar, Israel’s newly appointed foreign minister, visited the Netherlands to meet with Dutch government officials, including Justice Minister van Weel and Geert Wilders, the leader of the largest anti-Muslim party in the Dutch Parliament.
Wilders used the clashes to criticize what he termed “radical Islam,” while Stephan van Baarle, leader of the pro-immigrant party DENK, accused authorities of failing to curb provocations from Israeli fans.
The Amsterdam police have initiated a comprehensive investigation and are seeking public assistance for any relevant images or information related to the events.