Amsterdam apologizes for role in Holocaust, the persecution and murder of Jewish people during World War II

The Dutch capital has become the first city in the Netherlands to formally acknowledge its complicity in the Holocaust

On Wednesday, January 25, 2023, the mayor of Amsterdam, Femke Halsema, issued a formal apology for the city's role in the Holocaust during World War II. Amsterdam is the first city to do so. "Today, on behalf of the city council, I apologize for the role that the Amsterdam city council played in the persecution of Jewish people during the Second World War," said Halsema. "The city government bears responsibility for this dark chapter in our history."

During the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands from 1940 to 1945, the Amsterdam city council implemented a series of discriminatory measures against Jewish residents, including the forced registration of Jewish businesses and the establishment of a Jewish Council. The council also cooperated with the Nazis in the roundup and deportation of Jewish residents to concentration camps. As a result of these actions, over 80% of Amsterdam's Jewish population was murdered during the Holocaust.

In her apology, Halsema acknowledged the city's "moral and historical responsibility" for the persecution of Jewish people during the war. She also pledged to work to combat antisemitism in the city and to promote tolerance and understanding. "We must never forget the victims of the Holocaust," said Halsema. "And we must always be vigilant in our fight against antisemitism."

The apology was welcomed by Jewish groups, including the Anne Frank House, which said it was "an important step towards reconciliation." The apology is also a reminder of the importance of remembering the Holocaust and fighting against antisemitism today.