More demonstrations took place in Amsterdam last year than ever. There were 1,600. Most demonstrations were small and went off without any problems.
This is evident from figures from the municipality’s Public Order and Safety Directorate, which were presented today by the triangle (mayor, chief commissioner and chief public prosecutor). were released. In the document Officials write that it is noticeable in Amsterdam that trust in politics is low.
“Political and international developments reinforce feelings of double standards”
“Some of the residents have little confidence in the government and institutions and do not feel heard,” officials write. “Political and international developments reinforce feelings of double standards. Particularly among young people, there is sometimes a hardening towards the government. Citizen dissatisfaction is also reflected in a record number of more than 1,600 demonstrations in the city.“
According to the municipality, Amsterdam is an ‘attractive demonstration location for local, national and international themes’ for demonstrators from all over the country. Last year, several large-scale demonstrations took place with more than 10,000 participants. The number of incidents and arrests during demonstrations is ‘very limited’. Things went wrong on October 15th a pro-Palestinian demonstration when some of the demonstrators tried to disrupt an adjacent much smaller pro-Israel demonstration.
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The document does mention that there were ‘demonstrations of a disruptive character’. It blocking the A10 South on December 30 by Extinction Rebellion, however, is not described. The municipality does write that the largest public disturbances last year were related to football matches. For example, in September the Mobile Unit had to perform at Ajax matches at the Johan Cruijff Arena. Supporters threw with heavy fireworks and stones at the police.
There were also isolated incidents involving young people during New Year’s Eve. The Mobile Unit was deployed five times, in the city districts of Centrum, Oost, Nieuw-West and in the Weesp urban area. In a number of confrontations heavy fireworks thrown at the police.
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Demonstrations, football matches and major events require a lot of police capacity, the municipality writes.
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