Amsterdam coronation riots

The Amsterdam coronation riots ({{langx|nl|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 in Europe and the most significant event of the Dutch squatters' movement (Krakersrellen).

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.rnw.org/archive/amsterdam-squatters-and-police-mark-1980-riots|title=Amsterdam squatters and police mark 1980 riots|publisher=}} 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.

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

Riots

File:Tekst Geen woning, geen kroning op schutting Haarlemmer Houttuinen, Bestanddeelnr 930-7455.jpg

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 housing, no coronation).{{cite web|url=https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/rijksstudio/historical-figures/queen-beatrix|title=Queen Beatrix - Historical figures - Rijksstudio - Rijksmuseum|publisher=}} Due to the presence of 10,000 police officers, gendarmes and some military officers, the event turned into a major clash.{{cite magazine|url=https://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2084377,00.html|title=Amsterdam vs. the Squatters: Evictions, Arrests and Protests|first=Jean-Pierre|last=Stroobants|magazine=Time |date=20 July 2011|publisher=|via=content.time.com}} The riots were centred around the Dam Square, where the new Queen's inauguration took place.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s8QYDAAAQBAJ&q=%2230+april%22+riots+amsterdam+1980&pg=PT100|title=Policing New Risks in Modern European History|first1=Xavier|last1=Rousseaux|first2=Jonas|last2=Campion|date=29 April 2016|publisher=Springer|isbn=9781137544025|via=Google Books}} Clashes also happened in and around Blauwbrug, Rokin and Vondelstraat.{{cite web|url=https://3voor12.vpro.nl/artikelen/overzicht/2013/april/Kroning-1980-vs-2013--welke-muzikant-werpt-de-eerste-steen-.html|title=Kroning 1980 vs 2013: welke muzikant werpt de eerste steen? - artikelen|date=24 April 2013 |publisher=}}

One of the protesters, Karel Fassotte, claimed in an interview that apart from squatters, people taking part included ordinary students and football hooligans.{{cite web|url=http://www.ironcurtainproject.eu/en/popup/refrigerators-and-buckets-of-motor-oil-were-standing-on-the-roof/|title=During the squatter riots, Karel Fassotte operated a radio jammer in order to disrupt police communications.|publisher=}}

It marked a milestone in the mostly peaceful post-war history of the Netherlands. 600 people were wounded in the riots.{{cite web|url=https://www.dutchnews.nl/features/2017/06/deep-lying-even-violent-divisions-are-a-recurring-theme-in-dutch-history/|title=Deep-lying, even violent, divisions are a recurring theme in Dutch history - DutchNews.nl|date=26 June 2017 |publisher=}}

Aftermath

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

In 2010, the Dutch parliament voted to ban squatting entirely.{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/39463891|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201003171656/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/39463891|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 3, 2020|title=Violent protests after Dutch outlaw squatting - World news - Europe - NBC News|website=NBC News |date=3 October 2010|publisher=}}