Amsterdam's Mayor, Femke Halsema, has delivered a heartfelt apology for the city's prior role in the Holocaust, marking 80 years since the end of World War II. During a Holocaust commemoration at the Hollandsche Schouwburg, a location converted into a deportation center by the Nazis, Halsema acknowledged that the city government "horribly abandoned its Jewish residents" when it mattered most.
Reflecting on this dark chapter, Halsema stated, “Amsterdam's government was not heroic, not determined, and not merciful.” Under Nazi occupation, the capital's Jewish population of around 80,000 faced unimaginable horrors, with local officials and police contributing to the deportation of more than 60,000 individuals.
In her remarks, Halsema emphasized that antisemitism was unfortunately inherent in Dutch society and not merely a result of German occupation. Local administrators, she noted, did not just adhere to orders but actively supported the Nazis, which facilitated the tragic isolation and extermination of Amsterdam's Jewish community.
The mayor's statements come as part of a broader reckoning with historical injustices, where she seeks to confront and acknowledge the failures of the past, ensuring that such atrocities are neither forgotten nor repeated.
Reflecting on this dark chapter, Halsema stated, “Amsterdam's government was not heroic, not determined, and not merciful.” Under Nazi occupation, the capital's Jewish population of around 80,000 faced unimaginable horrors, with local officials and police contributing to the deportation of more than 60,000 individuals.
In her remarks, Halsema emphasized that antisemitism was unfortunately inherent in Dutch society and not merely a result of German occupation. Local administrators, she noted, did not just adhere to orders but actively supported the Nazis, which facilitated the tragic isolation and extermination of Amsterdam's Jewish community.
The mayor's statements come as part of a broader reckoning with historical injustices, where she seeks to confront and acknowledge the failures of the past, ensuring that such atrocities are neither forgotten nor repeated.
