Is there really two minutes of silence during the two minutes of silence? Remembrance Day is under high tension this year

With high-ranking guests such as the king and members of the cabinet, and a broadcast on TV, the National Commemoration on Dam Square is the most vulnerable. The National Coordinator for Terrorism and Security (NCTV) and the Amsterdam police state that there is a risk of protests and other disruptions. That is why every visitor had to register in advance and only ten thousand people are welcome. That is half the normal number of visitors.

Well-known pro-Palestinian organizations have not announced any protests and many have said in recent weeks that they have no plans to do so. The municipality said two weeks ago that one official demonstration had been announced. The municipality does not specify the nature of these and other feared demonstrations, but it is obvious that pro-Palestinian activists want to take action.

Any disruption could come from individuals who feel that the commemoration of the war dead is the time to demonstrate against the many Israeli-caused deaths in the Gaza Strip. For example, rapper Appa called on social media to take action on Saturday evening. “There is no more perfect time to raise the cries of genocide in Gaza louder than on Remembrance Day on May 4,” he said.

Amsterdam activist Frank van der Linde announced that he would demonstrate with protest signs against the presence of House Speaker and PVV member Martin Bosma, but this demonstration is prohibited on Dam Square. It is unclear whether this concerns the one announced demonstration. Van der Linde said yes last week News hour to be registered as a visitor and to want to turn their backs on Bosma when he lays a wreath.

Emergency plan

In addition to the limited number of spectators and the registration obligation, the municipality of Amsterdam has taken more measures. Visitors can enter Dam Square through a total of three entrances and will be searched. Flags, signs and sound amplifying devices are prohibited. Activist expressions on clothing are not yet prohibited. Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema initially said that this was the case for large groups, but later changed her mind.

The authorities are also on more alert than usual at commemorations at other locations. There is extra police at the war memorial in Rijswijk, which was previously defaced with swastikas. The police and organization of the commemoration on the Waalsdorpervlakte in Wassenaar have developed a special approach to emergencies. There is a risk of disruption there: RTL broadcasts this commemoration annually. The police in nearby The Hague help by monitoring social media and maintain ‘enhanced surveillance’ in their own city.

An emergency plan has also been drawn up in Utrecht, where three thousand visitors are expected at the Domplein. Similar preparations have been made in Wageningen, the city of the German capitulation. ‘Additional security measures’ have also been taken for the commemorations in Leeuwarden and at the National Cemetery in Loenen, although these are not specified.