Amsterdam coronation riots

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A man throwing an object at riot police on the Rokin Troonswisseling 30 april , rellen tijdens Troonswisselin stenengooier op het Rok, Bestanddeelnr 930-8083.jpg
A man throwing an object at riot police on the Rokin
Clashes between the protesters and security forces RiotsInaugurationBeatrix1980NL.jpg
Clashes between the protesters and security forces
Burnings RiotsInaugurationNLapril1980.jpg
Burnings

The Amsterdam coronation riots (Dutch : Kroningsoproer) refers to major violence and rioting in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on the day of the accession of Queen Beatrix, 30 April 1980. It was one of the biggest episodes of such disturbances in the country since the end of World War II and the most significant event of the Dutch squatters' movement (Krakersrellen).

Contents

Background

Since the 1960s and the 1970s, squatting had become common in Amsterdam to protest the city's shortage of housing. Many of the protesters were young people of the baby boomer generation. [1] The 1980 riots were preceded by the Afrikaanderwijk riots in 1972, Nieuwmarkt Riots in 1975 and the Vondelstraat Riots in March 1980, when authorities heavily responded to evict squatters from properties in the city. [1]

On 31 January, Queen Juliana announced that she would abdicate in favour of her eldest daughter, Princess Beatrix, on 30 April.

Riots

The main slogan of the protests, written on a wall on 26 March 1980, a month before the riots Tekst Geen woning, geen kroning op schutting Haarlemmer Houttuinen, Bestanddeelnr 930-7455.jpg
The main slogan of the protests, written on a wall on 26 March 1980, a month before the riots

Beatrix ascended the throne on 30 April 1980, and squatters started to riot. The protesters were rallying under the slogan Geen woning, geen kroning (No house, no coronation). [2] Due to the presence of 10,000 police officers, gendarmes and some military officers, the event turned into a major clash. [3] The riots were centred around the Dam Square, where the new Queen's inauguration took place. [4] Clashes also happened in and around Blauwbrug, Rokin and Vondelstraat. [5]

One of the protesters, Karel Fassotte, claimed in an interview that apart from squatters, people taking part included ordinary students and football hooligans. [6]

It marked a milestone in the mostly peaceful post-war history of the Netherlands. 600 people were wounded in the riots. [7]

Aftermath

The squatters' movement had enjoyed much public support for their cause beforehand, but that was depreciated following the riots, partly because the Dutch royal family was highly popular, while the squatters had turned the day of accession into one of violence. [8]

A new police leadership in Amsterdam started to force the evacuation of squatted buildings, including through special means. [4]

In 2010, the Dutch parliament voted to ban squatting entirely. [3] [9]

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dutch squatting ban</span>

The Dutch squatting ban refers to the law introduced on 1 October 2010, under which squatting in the Netherlands became de jure illegal. Criminalization had first been proposed in the 1970s, but was opposed by the Council of Churches. In 2006, a new plan was proposed and backed by parties including VVD and PVV. When the new law was introduced, squatters occupied the former head office of the fire brigade and there were riots in Amsterdam and Nijmegen. In 2011, the Supreme Court of the Netherlands ruled that the legally forced end of squatting can only occur after an intervention of a judge. Between October 2010 and December 2014, 529 people were arrested for the act of occupying derelict buildings, in 213 separate incidents as a result of which 39 people were jailed.

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This article lists some of the events from 1980 related to the Netherlands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vondelstraat riots</span>

The Vondelstraat riots were violent disturbances on Vondelstraat in Amsterdam, the Netherlands between squatters and the state in March 1980. It also involved the deployment of military tanks on the streets for the first time since World War II, and was one of the most serious disturbances involving squatters in the country.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Squatting in Iran</span> The occupation of unused land or derelict buildings without the permission of the owner

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wyers (squat)</span> Squatters house in Amsterdam

The Wyers squat was a self-managed social centre on Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal in central Amsterdam, the Netherlands, between 1981 and 1984. The buildings of the Wyers former wholesale textile company were converted by the squatters into a range of living and work spaces. When the Government of Amsterdam decided to demolish the complex to make way for a Holiday Inn hotel, a car parking garage and apartments, the squatters made alternative proposals. The eviction was announced for February 14 1984 and there were demonstrations in support of the squat around the country. On the day of eviction, 1,500 people stayed inside the building then left without conflict. The breeding place discourse of new cultural initiatives presented by the squatters was later adopted by the city council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inauguration of Beatrix</span> Inauguration of Queen Beatrix

The inauguration of Beatrix as Queen of the Netherlands took place on 30 April 1980 at the Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam. Beatrix ascended the throne immediately following the abdication of her mother Juliana earlier that day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Death of Hans Kok</span>

The death of Hans Kok occurred in the night of 24 October 1985, after he had been arrested in Amsterdam. The young squatter died in a police cell and the Dutch squatters movement believed he had been murdered. The following weekend, there were 40 arson attacks across the city and solidarity actions from other places. No prison officers faced charges; Kok's death has been memorialised in book, film and music.

References

  1. 1 2 "Amsterdam squatters and police mark 1980 riots".
  2. "Queen Beatrix - Historical figures - Rijksstudio - Rijksmuseum".
  3. 1 2 Stroobants, Jean-Pierre (20 July 2011). "Amsterdam vs. the Squatters: Evictions, Arrests and Protests". Time via content.time.com.
  4. 1 2 Rousseaux, Xavier; Campion, Jonas (29 April 2016). Policing New Risks in Modern European History. Springer. ISBN   9781137544025 via Google Books.
  5. "Kroning 1980 vs 2013: welke muzikant werpt de eerste steen? - artikelen". 24 April 2013.
  6. "During the squatter riots, Karel Fassotte operated a radio jammer in order to disrupt police communications".
  7. "Deep-lying, even violent, divisions are a recurring theme in Dutch history - DutchNews.nl". 26 June 2017.
  8. "Squatting in Amsterdam - DutchAmsterdam.com". 19 January 2009.
  9. "Violent protests after Dutch outlaw squatting - World news - Europe - NBC News". NBC News . 3 October 2010. Archived from the original on October 3, 2020.