Amsterdam’s Rode Lijn march ends as last demonstrators return to Museumplein

The last participants in Amsterdam’s Rode Lijn demonstration returned to Museumplein shortly after 5.15pm on Sunday, bringing a march against the war in Gaza to an end, ANP reporters observed.

The march began at about 2pm, after the demonstration had started around 1pm. Participants walked a loop around Vondelpark, returning to the square in groups throughout the afternoon. Organisers said more than 200,000 people took part; that was their estimate, not an independently reported count.

Many demonstrators wore red and carried Palestinian flags and protest placards. A banner at the front of the march read “No money for genocide”, while participants chanted “Free free Palestine” and “The Netherlands finances, Israel bombs”, according to ANP.

Palestinian journalist Amal Helles and former minister Lilianne Ploumen were among those who addressed the crowd. The demonstration was organised by a coalition including Amnesty International, Oxfam Novib, Save the Children and PAX.

The protest began and ended at Museumplein, with participants marching around Vondelpark. Dutch Railways had arranged longer trains for the expected crowds.