Dutch King Calls for Jewish Presence and Welcomes Muslims as Citizens

King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands used his annual Christmas address to urge Jewish and Muslim communities to embrace their place in Dutch society amidst rising tensions and national debates. His plea came following a wave of antisemitic assaults in Amsterdam last month, which many Dutch Jews have called a “pogrom.”

“To Jewish Dutch people who tell me they doubt their future here, I say: Stay! We belong together,” the king stated. Addressing Dutch Muslims, he added: “This is your country too.” The comments reflect efforts to address growing divisions after violent assaults by Muslim men against Israeli soccer fans on November 7-8, which sparked a heated discussion about antisemitism, Muslim radicalism, and perceptions of Israel.

The king’s address did not explicitly mention the attacks, but his call for non-violence appeared to allude to the recent unrest. “We do not resort to violence, even when we feel hurt or misunderstood,” he said.

The comments elicited mixed reactions. Some praised his message as “beautiful and unifying,” including Dutch Jews like Itai Cohn, who works to foster dialogue between Jewish and Muslim communities. Others, however, criticized the address as tone-deaf, particularly in light of a judicial decision that imposed what many saw as lenient sentences on the perpetrators of the November attacks.

One journalist, Jan Dijkgraaf, noted the stark reality for Dutch Jews. “Without directly mentioning it, you make it clear...that the Netherlands is not a safe country for Jews. Not then. Not now. Never.”

Geert Wilders, leader of the anti-Islam Party for Freedom, took issue with the king’s remarks, tweeting, “The Netherlands is ours, proud of our culture, our customs, our traditions, it is our country.”

The November assaults, which occurred during protests against Israeli actions in Gaza, have heightened fears within the Dutch Jewish community. The attackers received sentences ranging from community service to six months in jail penalties that fell short of what prosecutors sought, leaving many feeling the justice system failed to adequately address the severity of the attacks.

While Willem-Alexander’s message aimed for unity, the stark division in public response highlights the challenges of reconciling these tensions in a country grappling with its multicultural identity and a surge in antisemitism.

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