Amsterdam's Mayor Acknowledges City's Historical Role in Holocaust Tragedy

Mayor Halsema's apology comes 80 years after the Holocaust, recognizing the failure of the Amsterdam government to protect its Jewish population during this dark chapter of history. She condemned the collaboration between local officials and the Nazis that led to the deportation and death of tens of thousands of Jews.

In a significant and emotional address delivered on April 24, 2025, Amsterdam's Mayor Femke Halsema offered a formal apology for the city's historical role in the Holocaust, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Mayor Halsema emphasized the profound abandonment of Jewish residents by the city, stating, "Amsterdam's government was, when it mattered, not heroic, not determined and not merciful."

Speaking at a Holocaust commemoration event held at the Hollandsche Schouwburg—once a major deportation center for Jews—Halsema acknowledged that prior to the Holocaust, the city was home to approximately 80,000 Jewish residents, of whom more than 60,000 were deported and murdered amid Nazi persecution.

Highlighting the historical context, she pointed out that "antisemitism wasn’t brought to the Netherlands by the German occupier," indicating that such prejudices were already present in Dutch society. Halsema further criticized local officials who, in collaboration with Nazi authorities, contributed to the systematic isolation, humiliation, and deportation of fellow citizens.

"They were not just cold and formalistic, but were even willing to cooperate with the occupier," she stated, acknowledging that this collaboration played a critical role in the tragic fate of the Amsterdam Jewish community. By recognizing this collective failure, Mayor Halsema is facilitating an essential dialogue about accountability and remembrance in the ongoing struggle against antisemitism and historical denial.