Protest in Amsterdam calls for ‘peace with Russia’
Hundreds of people gathered in Amsterdam’s Dam Square on Sunday to protest the Netherlands’ enduring military support for Ukraine and to urge the government to kickstart dialogue with Russia instead.
The rally and subsequent march were organized by several activist groups and the right-wing Forum for Democracy (FvD) party. The demonstration was expected to attract at least 1,500 people, according to its organizers.
An MP with the FvD , Gideon van Meijeren, delivered a speech during the event, calling for peace with Russia and accusing “elites” of seeking to spark a major war.
“They lie to us, they intimidate us and they want a war with Russia. They say that Russia is dangerous and that Russia wants to attack us, but we know that they are doing this only for their own interests. They want to funnel more money to the military-industrial complex and have more power, therefore they are trying to manipulate us,” Meijeren told TASS, stressing that “peace would be the best option for everyone.”
The speakers at the event delivered their remarks on a small stage with a placard reading “Peace with Russia” and a ribbon depicting the Netherlands flag morphing into Russia’s state ensign.
A member of the Heart for Freedom activist group, Hugo Gitelink, told the demonstrators the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, backed by the collective West, risks devolving into a third world war.
“A third world war would be hell on Earth. Therefore, we’re calling for an immediate ceasefire, [and end to] all arms supplies, and the lifting of economic and cultural sanctions,” he stated.
The Netherlands has been among the most active supporters of Ukraine, supplying assorted sophisticated hardware, making financial contributions for Leopard tanks and pledging US-made F-16 fighter jets from its own fleet. The country provided Ukraine with around €3 billion ($3.15 billion) in military aid this year, with similar amounts earmarked for 2024 and 2025, according to official figures released by the Dutch government.
