Over 200,000 march in Amsterdam demanding action on Gaza
Protesters in the Netherlands called for stricter trade rules and a stop to arms sales to Israel during a Sunday demonstration.
By Sakura Novak ·
More than 200,000 people gathered in the streets of Amsterdam on Sunday to demand that the Dutch government take stronger action against Israel's war in Gaza. The Dutch branch of Amnesty International, which helped organize the event, provided the crowd estimate. Many participants wore red clothing for the march, which organizers named the 'Red Line' protest.
The demonstrators called for tighter trade restrictions on Israel and a complete halt to arms sales. Mike van Dongen, a protester walking through the crowd, described the situation in Gaza as inhumane. He criticized local authorities for what he perceived as inaction, stating they do not dare take serious steps. A man at a bus stop used a loudspeaker to shout 'Free, free Palestine!' while marchers passed along the traffic-closed street.
This demonstration follows a similar 'Red Line' march held in The Hague in June of last year. Another large protest took place in early October 2025. The current conflict in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of at least 74,000 Palestinians, including 21,000 children, since October 2023. Although a ceasefire took effect on October 10, 2025, Israeli attacks and killings have continued almost daily.
The war has strained diplomatic relations between the Netherlands and Israel. The Dutch foreign minister resigned last year after failing to secure new sanctions against Israel. A new minority coalition government took power in February and introduced an import ban on products from Israeli settlements. The Dutch government and much of the international community consider these settlements illegal, and the ban caused a diplomatic dispute with Israel.
Prime Minister Rob Jetten was not present at Sunday's march, though he participated in last year's demonstration. He addressed the issue at his weekly news conference on Friday. Jetten stated that his government acts every day and week to alleviate the terrible situation in Gaza. He said his administration is exerting greater political and diplomatic pressure on Israel to abide by its agreements regarding the conflict.
The protest route included a normally busy street in Amsterdam that was closed to vehicles for the event. The gathering highlights ongoing domestic pressure on the Dutch leadership to define its stance on the conflict, following recent changes in government policy and previous diplomatic friction with Israel.
