Amsterdam coronation riots

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).

A man throwing an object at riot police on the Rokin
Clashes between the protesters and security forces
Burnings

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 youngsters of the baby boomer generation.[1] The 1980 riots were precended by the 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

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] Despite 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

References
  1. "Amsterdam squatters and police mark 1980 riots".
  2. "Queen Beatrix - Historical figures - Rijksstudio - Rijksmuseum".
  3. Stroobants, Jean-Pierre (20 July 2011). "Amsterdam vs. the Squatters: Evictions, Arrests and Protests" – via content.time.com.
  4. 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".
  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".
  8. "Squatting in Amsterdam - DutchAmsterdam.com". 19 January 2009.
  9. "Violent protests after Dutch outlaw squatting - World news - Europe - NBC News". 3 October 2010.
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