George Floyd protests in the Netherlands explained

Shortly after protests seeking justice for the murder of George Floyd, an African-American who was killed during a police arrest, began in the United States, people in the Netherlands protested to show solidarity with Americans and to demonstrate against issues with police or racism. Vigils and protests of up to thousands of participants took place nationwide.

Reactions

Political

On 4 June, during a press conference about whether the Dutch could go on foreign holiday that year, Prime Minister Mark Rutte called the murder of George Floyd "unacceptable". Rutte also commented on the recent George Floyd protests in the Netherlands, saying that racism is not only an American and that racism in the Netherlands is a "systemic problem".^[1] He also said to have changed his mind about Zwarte Piet.^[2]

On 25 June, Mark Rutte, together with Deputy Prime Minister Kajsa Ollongren and Minister of Justice and Security Ferdinand Grapperhaus, invited several protesters at the Catshuis to discuss racism in the Netherlands and the recent demonstrations. This sparked some criticism, because lead figures of the Dutch antiracist movement, including organisers and spokespeople of organisations such as Black Lives Matter and Kick Out Zwarte Piet, were not invited.^[3] However, Rutte stated that a follow-up conversation with spokespersons and leaders of the movement would be organised in the future.^[4] This happened on 2 September, when representatives of Black Lives Matter and Kick Out Zwarte Piet were invited after all. They talked about how combat racism in different areas and how to address to issue of racism in the Netherlands. Minister of Social Affairs and Employment Wouter Koolmees joined the conversation as well.^{[5] [6]} After the conversation, Rutte said he wants to "take practical steps towards zero racism", especially in the areas of health care, housing, education and employment. Rutte also said he wants to talk to more organisations together with the members of his cabinet at the end of the month about sectors where discrimination still causes problems.^{[7] [8]} However, there was no third meeting.

After the two meetings at the Catshuis, Ollongren met with Black Lives Matter activists in Amsterdam-Zuidoost on 9 September to discuss the economic inequality in that area.^[9]

Public

A representative research by Hart van Nederland in early June, in which 3,066 people took, part suggests that 49% of the Dutch population supports the Black Lives Matter movement, opposed to 46% who don't support the movement.^[10] A survey in mid-June among 7,053 people by LINDA, consisting mostly of women (93%), suggested that 75.8% of the Dutch supported the protests that took place, opposed to 24.2% who did not.^[11]

Several Dutch celebrities showed their support for the protests and the Black Lives Matter movement, including Glennis Grace, Doutzen Kroes, Georgina Verbaan, Glen Faria (nl), Halina Reijn, Anna Nooshin (nl), Memphis Depay, Hadewych Minis, Pepijn Lanen (nl), Famke Louise, Meral Polat (nl), Nikkie de Jager, Nicolette van Dam, Jandino Asporaat and Patty Brard.^{[12] [13] [14]}

Timeline

1 June

• Amsterdam: Over 5,000 people protested against police brutality in the United States and Europe.^{[15] [16]} Attendance was far higher than expected,^[17] and some even speculated that up to 10,000 people attended the protest.^[18]
• Breda: Dozens of people protested in the city of Breda.^[19]
• Maastricht: Hundreds of people attended a Black Lives Matter demonstration in Maastricht.^{[20] [21]}

2 June

• Groningen: Between 800 and 1,500 people protested against police brutality in the United States and Europe.^[22]
• The Hague: Around 1,500 people gathered on the Malieveld to protest against police brutality in the United States and Europe.

3 June

• Rotterdam: Thousands of people gathered in Rotterdam to protest racism and police brutality.^[23]

4 June

• Arnhem: About a thousand people showed up on the Grote Markt in Arnhem.^[24]

5 June

• Enschede: 500 people protested in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter Movement in Enschede.^[25]
• Nijmegen: A protest was held in Goffertpark in Nijmegen in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. According to the local authorities, 850 people were present, while the organisation claims there were 2,500 people. An air photo of the protest shows over 1,000 people.
• Utrecht: About 3,500 people protested in Utrecht in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement.
• Weert

About 20 people demonstrated against racism in Weert.^[26]

6 June

• Eindhoven: 1,700 people gathered at the Stadhuisplein in Eindhoven. They all held a moment of silence for the victims of police brutality before protesting.^[27]
• Tilburg: A thousand people protested in Tilburg against racism and police brutality.^[28]

7 June

• Maastricht: 1,400 people protested peacefully for the second time in Maastricht, this time in Griendpark.^[29]
• Zwolle: At least a thousand people protested in Zwolle at the Wezenlanden park.

8 June

• Bergen op Zoom: Two anonymous people started protesting on the Grote Markt in Bergen op Zoom every Friday, starting on June 8.^{[30] [31]}
• Middelburg: 800 people in Middelburg held a sit-in while hundreds of other protesters demonstrated elsewhere in the city. 500 people 'attended' the protest online.^[32]

10 June

• Amsterdam: 11,500 of protesters gathered again in Amsterdam, this time at the Nelson Mandelapark.^{[33] [34]}

11 June

• Dronten: Over 100 people demonstrated in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement at the Meerpaalplein in Dronten.^[35]

12 June

• Amsterdam: An "estafette-demonstratie" (relay demonstration) began in Amsterdam. Every day from 9am to 5pm a single picket demonstration takes place, with a new protester every hour. The protest was supported online with the hashtag "#zolanghetnodigis" (#aslongasittakes).^{[36] [37]}
• Lelystad: About 250 people protested at a Black Lives Matter demonstration at the Agorahof in Lelystad.^[38]

13 June

• 's-Hertogenbosch

About 1,000 protested at a Black Lives Matter protest in Den Bosch.^[39]

• Breda: 1,500 people attended a Black Lives Matter protest in Breda.^[40]
• Leeuwarden

Between 2,000 and 2,500 people attended a Black Lives Matter protest in Leeuwarden.^{[41] [42]}

14 June

• Alkmaar

Between 750 and 1,000 people protested in Alkmaar.^[43]

• Almere

Between 2,600 and 3,000 people protested in Almere.^{[44] [45]}

• Deventer

About 1,100 people protested in Deventer.^[46]

• Leiden: More than 2,500 people protested in Leiden.^[47]
• Wageningen

1,026 people went to a Black Lives Matter demonstration at Park Noordwest in Wageningen.^[48]

15 June

• Apeldoorn

Over 550 people protested in Apeldoorn.^[49]

17 June

• Haarlem: About 2,000 people gathered in the Haarlemmerhout to peacefully protest racism.^[50]
• Purmerend: Over 250 people protested in Purmerend.^[51]

19 June

• Hoorn

Approximately 250 protesters demonstrated against the statue of Jan Pieterszoon Coen.^{[52] [53]} This eventually emerged in riots, where at least five people were arrested.^[54]

• Nijmegen: Another "estafette-demonstratie" started taking place in Nijmegen, in a similar fashion as the demonstration that started in Amsterdam on 12 June.^[55]
• Zutphen: 285 people demonstrated in Zutphen against racism.^{[56] [57] [58]}

20 June

• The Hague: A few hundred people protested on the Malieveld against a new law giving police more authorisation for the use of violence.^[59]
• Heerlen: About 60 people protested in Heerlen.^{[60] [61]}

21 June

• Emmen: Approximately 200 people protested against racism in Emmen.^[62]

25 June

• Diemen: Several primary school pupils and some adults held a small protest in Diemen.^[63]

27 June

• Heerlen: Over 200 people protested against racism in Heerlen.^[64]

11 July

• Ede: Over 100 people demonstrated against racism in Ede.^{[65] [66]}

12 July

• Dordrecht: About 250 people protested in Dordrecht.^[67]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Lalor. Ailish. 4 June 2020. Rutte: death of George Floyd "unacceptable", discrimination a "systemic problem" in the Netherlands. 5 June 2020. Dutch Review.
2. Web site: 5 June 2020. Rutte: ik ben anders gaan denken over Zwarte Piet. 25 June 2020. Nederlandse Omroep Stichting. nl.
3. Web site: 24 June 2020. Black Lives Matter-betogers spreken Rutte, hoofdrolspelers ontbreken. 25 June 2020. Nederlandse Omroep Stichting. nl.
4. Web site: van Ast. Maarten. den Hartog. Tobias. 24 June 2020. Rutte nodigt Black Lives Matter en Kick Out Zwarte Piet toch wel uit. 25 June 2020. Het Parool. nl.
5. News: 2 September 2020. Rutte praat vandaag met Black Lives Matter en Kick Out Zwarte Piet. 21 April 2021. Hartvannederland. nl.
6. Web site: 1 September 2021. Minister-president Rutte en minister Koolmees in gesprek met Black Lives Matter Nederland. 21 April 2021. Rijksoverheid. nl.
7. Web site: 2 September 2020. Rutte wil 'praktische stappen zetten naar nul racisme'. 21 April 2021. Het Parool. nl.
8. Web site: Roetman. Bas. 2 September 2020. Rutte wil naar een 'land met nul racisme' na gesprek met Black Lives Matter en Kick Out Zwarte Piet. 21 April 2021. Trouw. nl.
9. Web site: Meershoek. Patrick. September 9, 2020. Minister in gesprek met BLM-activisten langs de kloof tussen arm en rijk in Zuidoost. 21 April 2021. Het Parool. nl.
10. News: 8 June 2020. Meeste Nederlanders steunen 'Black Lives Matter'-demonstranten. 20 June 2020. Hartvannederland. nl.
11. Web site: Daub. Madelijne. 17 June 2020. Meer dan helft van de mensen maakt zich onbewust schuldig aan racisme. 20 June 2020. LINDA.. nl.
12. Web site: 2 June 2020. Black Lives Matter: deze BN'ers protesteerden gister op de Dam. dead. 21 April 2021. AndC. nl. 21 April 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210421164036/https://www.andc.tv/item/people-entertainment-gossip-sterren-black-lives-matter-deze-bners-protesteerden-gister-op-de-dam.
13. Web site: Riemersma. Greta. 28 August 2020. 'Ik wil een universeel verhaal vertellen: wat maakt ons tot wie we zijn?'. 21 April 2021. de Volkskrant. nl.
14. Web site: 2 June 2020. BN'ers massaal 'op zwart' op Instagram: dit is waarom!. 21 April 2021. Televizier. nl.
15. Web site: 1 June 2020. Duizenden mensen protesteren op de Dam tegen politiegeweld. 1 June 2020. NU.nl. nl.
16. Web site: 8 June 2020. Verbod op de Dam geldt alleen voor 'risicovolle demonstraties'. 8 June 2020. NU.nl. nl.
17. Book: Naomi Kok Luis . Supheert . Roselinde . Cascio . Gandolfo . ten Thije . Jan . The Riches of Intercultural Communication - Volume 1: Interactive, Contrastive, and Cultural Representational Approaches . 2022 . . 978-90-04-52284-8 . 69 . It’s Not All Black and White: Ethnic Self- Categorization of Multiethnic Dutch Millennials . On the first of June 2020 thousands of people, far more than expected, gathered on Dam Square in Amsterdam for the first massive Black Lives Matter protest in the Netherlands..
18. Web site: Muller. Mike. 3 June 2020. Woordvoerder Halsema: mogelijk waren er 10.000 mensen op de Dam. 8 June 2020. De Telegraaf. nl.
19. Web site: da Graça. Jennifer. 3 June 2020. Estelle demonstreerde op de Dam en in Breda tegen racisme: 'Ik besef dat ik niet alleen ben'. 4 June 2020. indebuurt.nl. nl.
20. Web site: 6 June 2020. Opnieuw demonstraties tegen racisme en politiegeweld dit weekend. 6 June 2020. hartvannederland.nl. nl.
21. Web site: Verborg. Rosalia. 6 June 2020. Opnieuw demonstratie tegen racisme in Maastricht. 6 June 2020. 1Limburg. nl. 6 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200606165627/https://www.1limburg.nl/opnieuw-demonstratie-tegen-racisme-maastricht. dead.
22. Web site: 3 June 2020. Black Lives Matter demos in Groningen and The Hague pass off without problems. 3 June 2020. DutchNews.nl. en-GB.
23. News: 3 June 2020. Protest Rotterdam beëindigd door burgemeester: onbeheersbaar druk • betogers gaan weg. nl. Nederlandse Omroep Stichting. 3 June 2020.
24. Web site: 4 June 2020. Schatting van Marcouch: 'Ruim duizend betogers in Arnhem bij protest tegen racisme'. 4 June 2020. De Gelderlander. nl.
25. Web site: 5 June 2020. Regenachtige Black Lives Matter-demonstraties in drie steden. 5 June 2020. Nederlandse Omroep Stichting. nl.
26. Web site: 5 June 2020. Black Lives Matter ook in Weert demonstratie tegen racisme en politiegeweld. 6 June 2020. Nederweert24. nl.
27. Web site: Hoekstra. Diede. Luiten. Erik. 6 June 2020. 1700 demonstranten tegen racisme bij vol Stadhuisplein in Eindhoven: 'Ik werd gezien als een gevaar'. 6 June 2020. Eindhovens Dagblad. nl.
28. Web site: 6 June 2020. Antiracismeprotest Tilburg rustig verlopen, goed afstand gehouden. 6 June 2020. NU.nl. nl.
29. News: Sondermeijer. Vincent. 7 June 2020. Honderden betogers bij racismedemonstraties in Maastricht en Zwolle. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200607141009/https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2020/06/06/blog-anti-racismeprotesten-6-juni-a4001991. 7 June 2020. 7 June 2020. NRC Handelsblad. nl.
30. Web site: Peeters. Erik. 8 June 2020. Lunchtijd is protesttijd tegen racisme voor twee 'anonieme' actievoerders in Bergen op Zoom. 14 July 2020. Omroep Brabant. nl.
31. Web site: Hagenaars. Coen. Froeling. Nicole. Aanen. Floyd. 13 July 2020. Waarom demonstraties Black Lives Matter een groot deel van West-Brabant nooit hebben bereikt. 14 July 2020. BN DeStem. nl.
32. Web site: 8 June 2020. Duizend mensen bij Black Lives Matter-demonstratie in Middelburg. 8 June 2020. Algemeen Dagblad. nl.
33. Web site: 10 June 2020. Duizenden mensen demonstreren tegen racisme in Amsterdam. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200610161727/https://www.rtlnieuws.nl/nieuws/nederland/artikel/5149016/racisme-blacklivesmatter-bijlmer-protest-demonstratie-nelson. 10 June 2020. 10 June 2020. RTL Nieuws. nl.
34. Web site: 10 June 2020. Ruim 11.000 demonstreren in Bijlmer tegen racisme: 'Volgend jaar hier weer'. 10 June 2020. Nederlandse Omroep Stichting. nl.
35. Web site: 11 June 2020. Initiatiefneemster demonstratie: "Het is nu tijd om anti-racist te zijn". 11 June 2020. Omroep Flevoland. nl.
36. Web site: 18 June 2020. Na massaal protest nu eenzame demonstrant op Dam: 'Zolang het nodig is'. 19 June 2020. RTL Nieuws. nl.
37. Web site: Official #zolanghetnodigis website. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200619180322/https://www.zolanghetnodigis.nl/over. 19 June 2020. 19 June 2020. Zolang Het Nodig Is.
38. Web site: 12 June 2020. Veel demonstranten bij Black Lives Matter-protest op Agorahof. 13 June 2020. Omroep Flevoland. nl.
39. Web site: van Houtum. Miranda. van der Lee. René. 13 June 2020. Luid en emotioneel protest tegen racisme in Den Bosch: 'Laten we vandaag definitief afrekenen met discriminatie'. 13 June 2020. Brabants Dagblad. nl.
40. Web site: Schraven. Martijn. Cleven. Ties. 13 June 2020. 1500 demonstranten in Breda zijn klaar met racisme, manifestatie netjes verlopen. 13 June 2020. Brabants Dagblad. nl.
41. Web site: 13 June 2020. Ruim 2000 demonstranten bij Black Lives Matter-protest: gemeente roept op niet meer te komen. 13 June 2020. Leeuwarder Courant. nl.
42. Web site: 13 June 2020. 2500 man bij protest Black Lives Matter in Leeuwarden. 13 June 2020. De Telegraaf. nl.
43. Web site: 14 June 2020. Alkmaarse antiracismedemo trekt honderden mensen: "Klaar met decennialange gevecht". 14 June 2020. NH. nl.
44. Web site: 14 June 2020. Antiracismeprotest in Almere trekt zo'n 2600 betogers. 14 June 2020. Ditjes & Datjes. nl.
45. Web site: 14 June 2020. Organisatie tevreden over antiracisme-demonstratie. 14 June 2020. Omroep Flevoland. nl.
46. Web site: Rondhuis. Angelique. de Groot. Eliza. 14 June 2020. Nana scandeert samen met 1100 demonstranten 'Genoeg is Genoeg' tijdens Deventer Black Lives Matter. 14 June 2020. De Stentor. nl.
47. Web site: 14 June 2020. Ruim 2500 mensen bij Black Lives Matter demonstratie in Leiden. 14 June 2020. Omroep West. nl.
48. Web site: Winkel. Arnold. 14 June 2020. Demonstratie Black Lives Matter in Wageningen met 1026 bezoekers rustig verlopen. 14 June 2020. De Gelderlander. nl.
49. Web site: van Zoeren. Walter. Broersma. Mark. Rutgers. Johannes. 15 June 2020. Black Lives Matter-protest in Apeldoorn verloopt rustig. 15 June 2020. De Stentor. nl.
50. Web site: 17 June 2020. Grote opkomst bij antiracismeprotest Haarlem, gemoedelijke sfeer in Purmerend. 17 June 2020. NH. nl.
51. Web site: Teillers. Frederique. 17 June 2020. Het antiracismeprotest in Purmerend: 'Aandacht geven aan het racismedebat hier'. 17 June 2020. Noordhollands Dagblad. nl.
52. Web site: 19 June 2020. Rellen door tegendemonstranten standbeeld JP Coen: "Er wordt met bakstenen gegooid". 19 June 2020. NH. nl.
53. Web site: 19 June 2020. Voor- en tegenstanders demonstreren over omstreden standbeeld JP Coen. 19 June 2020. NH. nl.
54. Web site: 19 June 2020. Onrustig einde demonstraties Hoorn, plein met standbeeld J.P. Coen ontruimd. 19 June 2020. NU.nl. nl.
55. Web site: Nijtmans. Anne. 19 June 2020. Doorlopend eenpersoons protest in Nijmegen moet aandacht voor racisme levend houden. 19 June 2020. De Gelderlander. nl.
56. Web site: 19 June 2020. Ruim tweehonderd deelnemers anti-racismeprotest Zutphen. 19 June 2020. Omroep Gelderland. nl.
57. Web site: Sprikkelman. Jesse. 19 June 2020. BLM-protest in Zutphen: 'In de supermarkt houden ze me altijd in de gaten'. 19 June 2020. Lokaal Gelderland. nl.
58. Web site: Zurhake. Sander. 19 June 2020. Honderden mensen, jong en oud, betuigen steun bij Black Lives Matter in Zutphen. 20 June 2020. De Stentor. nl.
59. Web site: 20 June 2020. Demonstratie Black Lives Matter op Malieveld trekt enkele honderden mensen. 21 June 2020. Omroep West. nl.
60. Web site: Rietjens. Jochem. 20 June 2020. Boom geplant bij kleine demonstratie in Heerlen. 21 June 2020. 1Limburg. nl.
61. Web site: 20 June 2020. Minder demonstranten Black Lives Matter dan verwacht op Malieveld. 21 June 2020. Trouw. nl.
62. Web site: 21 June 2020. Black Lives Matter-demonstratie in Emmen afgelopen. 21 June 2020. RTV Drenthe. nl.
63. Web site: 25 June 2020. Kinderen houden eigen protest tegen racisme. 26 June 2020. Algemeen Dagblad. nl.
64. Web site: Benneker . Frank . 27 June 2020. Black Lives Matter Parkstad is er klaar mee en laat racisme niet meer gaan . www.limburger.nl. De Limburger. 28 June 2020 . nl.
65. Web site: 11 July 2020. Black Lives Matter-demonstratie in Ede rustig verlopen. 14 July 2020. Ede Stad. nl.
66. Web site: van Ravensberg. Mathilde. 11 July 2020. Een hele Ginkelse Heide voor honderd man: drukte blijft uit bij Black Lives Matter-demonstratie in Ede. 14 July 2020. De Gelderlander. nl.
67. Web site: 12 July 2020. Demonstraties in Weizigtpark rustig verlopen. 12 July 2020. Dordt Centraal. nl.