Amsterdam Tries to Dim the Glare on Its Red-Light District

THE NEW YORK TIMES: The mayor wants to improve the neighborhood for residents, but sex workers oppose measures recently put in place. Now the city is looking to set up legal prostitution elsewhere.

The red-light district is one of Amsterdam’s oldest neighborhoods. | Ilvy Njiokiktjien for The New York Times
It has been a goal sought after by Amsterdam for years: dissuading rowdy, brawling tourists from overtaking the red-light district.

The Dutch city announced new measures this spring to crack down on noise and substance abuse, which residents have long complained about in the district. But sex workers, bartenders and entrepreneurs say the new rules haven’t been effective in making the area safer or quieter.

Now the city is pushing a more drastic move: setting up a location for legal prostitution in another neighborhood to spread out demand — an idea that has set off mixed reactions from the industry.

The new rules introduced this spring set earlier closing times for bars (2 a.m., and no new entry after 1 a.m.), stopped sex workers from working after 3 a.m. instead of 6 a.m. and banned marijuana smoking in the street. But many sex workers say the regulations make them less safe because they have less time to earn enough money to cover the cost of their rooms, pressuring them to accept clients they would otherwise turn down. » | Claire Moses, Reporting from the red-light district in Amsterdam | Tuesday, July 4, 2023

Russian Orthodox Church in Amsterdam Announces Split with Moscow

THE GUARDIAN: Clergy takes ‘difficult decision’ to cut ties with the Moscow patriarchate over the invasion of Ukraine

A Russian Orthodox church in Amsterdam in 2020. More than 280 Russian Orthodox priests and church officials from around the world have signed an open letter expressing their opposition to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Photograph: Koen van Weel/ANP/AFP/Getty Images
A Russian Orthodox church in Amsterdam has announced it is to split with the Moscow patriarchate in the first known instance of a western-based church cutting ties over the invasion of Ukraine.

“The clergy unanimously announced that it is no longer possible for them to function within the Moscow patriarchate and provide a spiritually safe environment for our faithful,” the clergy said in a statement posted on its website.

“This decision is extremely painful and difficult for all concerned.”

The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, a trusted ally of President Vladimir Putin, has declined to condemn Kremlin’s decision to invade its neighbour, referring to Russia’s opponents in Ukraine as “evil forces.” In a Sunday sermon last week he also said gay pride parades organised in the West were part of the reason for the war in Ukraine.

The statement said the Russian Orthodox parish of Saint Nicholas of Myra had asked the Russian archbishop of the diocese of the Netherlands who is based in The Hague to grant the church “canonical dismissal.”

The clergy of the parish said they had requested to join the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, the Istanbul-based Orthodox branch, seen as a rival to the Russian Orthodox Church.
Kirill’s position on the war has led to unease among some Russian Orthodox priests who object to the invasion of a country often referred to as a “brotherly nation” in religious circles. » | Pjotr Sauer| Sunday, March 13, 2022

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Dutch Police Arrest Suspects in Shooting of Investigative Journalist De Vries | DW News

Jul 8, 2021 • Police in the Netherlands have arrested two suspects over the shooting of prominent investigative journalist Peter De Vries. The men are due in court on Friday. Authorities are investigating links to De Vries' reporting on a major criminal gang. European leaders say his shooting was also an attack on freedom of the press.

Netherlands Crime Journalist Peter R. de Vries Shot in Amsterdam | DW News

Jul 7, 2021 • Dutch crime journalist Peter R. de Vries was fighting for his life after being shot and wounded in a gun attack in the center of Amsterdam on Tuesday evening.

De Vries, 64, was taken to hospital in a seriously wounded state. He had been taking part in a live television show where he was a regular guest and was shot close to the RTL studios.

In 2019, de Vries wrote on Twitter that he had been informed by police and justice officials that he was on the hit list of a fugitive criminal.

According to NOS, de Vries had recently acted as an adviser and confidant to a state witness testifying against an alleged drug kingpin, who was extradited to the Netherlands from Dubai in 2019.

Sharing the Motherland: Amsterdam as Modern Babylon | RT Documentary

Amsterdam could compete with New York for the title of modern Babylon. More than 200 ethnic groups live here. The whole of post-war Netherlands has been working hard to build the image of Europe’s most tolerant country – but what has been the result? Regions of the country are populated completely by people not of Dutch origin. Some of them want to accept the Dutch culture, language, and way of life; others are keeping their own traditions and languages. But despite their differences, all these people want to live in Holland.

Vereidigung von Willem-Alexander
Die Niederlande haben einen neuen König: In der Neuen Kirche von Amsterdam hat Willem-Alexander seinen Eid geleistet. Der 46-Jährige dankte seiner Mutter Beatrix. "Ihre Weisheit und Herzlichkeit werde ich mit mir tragen", sagte er.

Amsterdam of Immigrants: Sharing the Motherland (RT Documentary, July 2012)
Amsterdam could compete with New York for the title of modern Babylon. More than 200 ethnic groups live here. The whole of post-war Holland has been working hard to build the image of Europe's most tolerant country -- but what has been the result? Regions of the country are populated completely by people not of Dutch origin. Some of them want to accept the Dutch culture, language, and way of life; others are keeping their own traditions and languages. But despite their differences, all these people want to live in Holland. Find out what the Dutch think about it on RT.

Geert Wilders' Final Remarks at The Amsterdam Trial - English Subtitles

HT: Faith Freedom »

At Least Six Killed in Amsterdam Shooting
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: A gunman has killed at least six people and wounded 13 others after opening fire with an automatic weapon at a shopping centre outside Amsterdam.

The shooting happened in the town of Alphen aan den Rijn, 13 miles southwest of Amsterdam.

"A man with an automatic weapon, whose identity we cannot reveal, started shooting and killed five people and then himself," Mayor Bas Eenhoorn said.

"Four people were very badly injured, five mildly wounded, and at least two slightly injured."

Mr Eenhoorn called the shooting "unprecedented" and said there were a large number of people in the shopping centre when the shootings occurred. » | Saturday, April 09, 2011

Geert Wilders 'Hate' Trial to Go ahead in Amsterdam
BBC: The trial of Dutch political leader Geert Wilders on charges of inciting hatred against Muslims is to go ahead, an Amsterdam court has ruled.

Mr Wilders, whose Freedom Party props up the government, had argued the court could not try the case as the alleged offences took place in The Hague.

He insists his remarks on Islam were part of a legitimate political debate.

An original trial was halted last October after claims of bias by Mr Wilders against the judges were upheld.

Mr Wilders has described Islam as "fascist", comparing the Koran to Hitler's Mein Kampf.

In his ruling on Wednesday, Judge Marcel van Oosten said the court would pursue the charges against him for the comparisons he had made with Nazism, according to Dutch media. » | Wednesday, March 30, 2011

DEUTSCHE WELLE: Dutch court orders resumption of Wilders race hate trial: After months of adjournments and objections, a Dutch court has given the go-ahead for the race hate trial of Dutch anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders, who faces charges including inciting hatred. » | Darren Mara (AFP, AP, dpa) | Wednesday, March 30, 2011

THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD: Court orders trial of Dutch anti-Islam MP » | AFP | Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Britons Held at Amsterdam EDL Demo
BELFAST TELEGRAPH: Five Britons were among several dozen people arrested during a demonstration by the right-wing English Defence League in Amsterdam.

Around 60 EDL activists turned up in the Dutch city on Saturday to support Dutch anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders.

The Britons were among 34 people arrested during the day, Amsterdam Police spokesman Rob van der Veen said. It is understood the five were held for not producing identification while on their way to the demonstration. >>> | Sunday, October 31, 2010

The Crooked Judges of Amsterdam

Stifling Free Speech Is Not Really Free
In protecting Muslims from those who offend them, the West ill-serves Islam and those Muslims who seek its reform. Muslims need untrammelled free speech to awaken to the awareness of how totalitarian and comatose is their culture. – Salim Mansur, QMI Agency
TORONTO SUN – Comment: Free speech is not merely an ornamental bauble found in liberal democratic societies. It is the well-fought ground upon which the structures of such societies have been constructed.

It is free speech in practice, or its ideal subscribed to, that has distinguished Europe and western civilization from all others past and present. Its absence or suppression is the main feature of totalitarian culture.

Yet free speech has never been entirely free from siege by special interests.

Except for the United States where free speech is constitutionally protected by the first amendment, the exercise of free speech can still be constrained by the guardians of public interests as we see in the case of the Dutch MP Geert Wilders, indicted and brought to court for offending Muslims in Holland.

The trial of Wilders is as much a step backward from the ideal of free speech as it is indicative of how free people willingly compromise their freedom by forgetting their history.

In indicting Wilders for hate speech, the Dutch, and their Western supporters, have turned their backs to the long line of defenders of free speech as the cornerstone of liberty, from Spinoza and Voltaire to Emile Zola. >>> Salim Mansur, QMI Agency | Thursday, February 4, 2010

Pat Condell: The Crooked Judges of Amsterdam

Geert Wilders Launches Websites on Political Trial
PARTIJ VOOR DE VRIJHEID: Wednesday February 3rd 2010 Dutch politician Geert Wilders launches two websites on the political trial against him and the freedom of speech. From now on both the Dutch (www.wildersproces.nl) and the international public (www.wildersontrial.com) are able to keep up with the trials’ proceedings.

Both websites not only include the latest news on the trial but also provide background information on the trials’ participants, the summons, the cause and the importance of this trial for freedom of speech in the Netherlands and –possibly- for the whole of Europe.

Geert Wilders: “This trial is not just about me. It is about the future of freedom of speech in the Netherlands. The outcome of this trial affects the freedom of all Dutch citizens. With these websites, I want to make it possible for people to follow the latest developments concerning the trial.” [Source: Partij Voor De Vrijheid] | Wednesday, February 03, 2010

Wilders on Trial: A sledgehammer blow to the freedom of speech >>>

Het Wilders process: Aanslag op de vrijheid van meningsuiting >>>

Geert Wilders spreekt de rechtbank toe: Geert Wilder Speaks to the Court

Douglas Murray – The Trial of Geert Wilders: Why We Won't Be Hearing About Camel Urine
THE TELEGRAPH: The trial of the Dutch politician Geert Wilders recommenced yesterday with a ruling on which expert witnesses the defence would be permitted to call.

When the trial opened a fortnight ago, Wilders asked for a rather sparky list of 18 expert witnesses. They included some noted experts on Islam and social cohesion. And also a few, ahem, practitioners of the same. They were to include Mohammed Bouyeri, who shot, stabbed and partly beheaded the film-maker Theo van Gogh in Amsterdam in 2004. And also Yusuf al-Qaradawi, the jihadist cleric who was given the red-carpet treatment in London by former mayor Ken Livingstone a few years back.

Sadly the Dutch court haven’t allowed these witnesses or most of the others, leaving the defence with only three witnesses. They are expert Simon Admiraal and leading Dutch scholar Hans Jansen (author of numerous scholarly books and the hilariously titled recent Islam for Pigs, Donkeys, Monkeys and Other Beasts). Most interestingly the court has allowed Wilders to call as an expert witness the brave and eloquent Wafa Sultan.

Sultan made her name – and garnered her first fatwas – for a blinding hit-the-ball-out-of-the-stadium interview on Al Jazeera a few years ago viewable here. It caused terrible convulsions across the Muslim world, and also apparently in Sheikh al-Qaradawi who described her home-truths session as consisting of “unbearable, ghastly things that made my hair stand on end.”

I much look forward to seeing Wafa Sultan take the stand. Though I slightly pity the prosecution for having to attempt to cross-examine her. Read on and comment here >>> Douglas Murray | Thursday, February 04, 2010

Populist Wilders darf Mörder nicht als Zeugen aufrufen
WELT ONLINE: Berlin - Ein Amsterdamer Gericht hat im Verfahren gegen den niederländischen Oppositionspolitiker Geert Wilders beinahe alle Anträge des Angeklagten abgelehnt. Der Islamkritiker wollte unter anderem den Mörder von Filmemacher Theo van Gogh als Zeugen vor Gericht erscheinen lassen. Dies wurde nicht genehmigt. Auch gilt Wilders Immunität als Abgeordneter nicht uneingeschränkt.

Berlin - Ein Amsterdamer Gericht hat im Verfahren gegen den niederländischen Oppositionspolitiker Geert Wilders beinahe alle Anträge des Angeklagten abgelehnt. Der Islamkritiker wollte unter anderem den Mörder von Filmemacher Theo van Gogh als Zeugen vor Gericht erscheinen lassen. Dies wurde nicht genehmigt. Auch gilt Wilders Immunität als Abgeordneter nicht uneingeschränkt. Wilders reagierte auf die Ablehnung fast aller 18 beantragten Zeugen enttäuscht. Verschiedene radikale Imame und Strafrechtler wurden abgelehnt, nur drei Islamwissenschaftler dürfen aussagen. ,,Dieses Gericht hat kein Interesse an der Wahrheit. Das wird kein ehrlicher Prozess. Ich respektiere das nicht", sagte Wilders. Er spricht von einem "politischen Prozess". >>> Von Rob Savelberg | Donnerstag, 04. Februar 2010

NRC HANDELSBLAD INTERNATIONAL: Van Gogh's killer rejected as Wilders witness: Mohammed B. will not be allowed to testify in the case against Geert Wilders, leader of the populist PVV party, an Amsterdam court has ruled. >>> RNW, NRC | Thursday, January 04, 2010

Anti-Muslim Dutch Lawmaker's Trial Tests Freedom of Speech
TIME: A flamboyant populist and founder of a virulently anti-immigrant political party, Geert Wilders sees himself as a champion of free speech in the Netherlands. Others would disagree. Wilders, a member of the Dutch parliament, is in court this week to face five counts of inciting hatred and discrimination for describing Islam as a fascist religion and Moroccan youths as violent, and for calling for the banning of the Quran. The trial, which resumed Wednesday after a two-week break, is being seen as a test of the limits of free speech and the famously tolerant country's commitment to protecting minority rights.

Wilders, a 46-year-old with bleach-blond, bouffant hair, made international headlines in 2008 when he made a short film called Fitna, in which verses from the Quran were displayed against a background of violent film clips and images of terrorism by Islamic radicals. Described as "offensively anti-Islamic" by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the film led to protests in the Muslim world and prompted Britain to ban Wilders from entering the country. But it also brought Wilders more popularity at home. His Party for Freedom finished second in last year's European Parliament elections, winning 17% of the Dutch vote. His party also holds nine seats in the Dutch parliament.

Because of his extreme anti-Muslim views, Wilders is often compared to the leaders of Europe's other far-right parties, such as Nick Griffin of the British National Party and Jean-Marie Le Pen of France's National Front. But he claims (though his opponents strongly disagree) that his policies are rooted in the Dutch tradition of tolerance: he says that Islam is a threat to women's rights and he criticizes Muslims' anti-gay rhetoric. Now under 24-hour surveillance because of the many death threats he's received, Wilders told TIME last year that Islam itself stirs hatred. "The Quran is full of incitements to violence," he said. "Islam wants to dominate every part of life and society. It does not want to integrate or assimilate, but to dominate. It should not be compared to other religions, but with totalitarian ideologies, like communism or fascism." >>> Leo Cendrowicz | Wednesday, February 03, 2010

Bram Moszkowicz, Geert Wilders' lawyer. Photo: De Telegraaf
Wilders’ Lawyer Speaks Out
GATES OF VIENNA: Moszkowicz: Court is overestimating itself

The lawyer for Geert Wilders, Bram Moszkowicz, finds that the court overestimates itself, now that it has found it unnecessary to hear some legal experts. “That is quite something, that a court finds that no legal experts are needed,” Bram Moszkowicz said. “With this the court overestimates itself, and when a judge overestimates himself, I start to be afraid.” >>> Baron Bodissey | Translation by VH | Wednesday, February 03, 2010

Original article in Dutch in De Telegraaf

"Geert Akbar!": “The Price of Freedom Is Eternal Vigilance”


Geert’s Trial: Day 1


Hat tip: Europe News >>>