Amsterdam coronation riots


The Amsterdam coronation riots refers to major violence and rioting in Amsterdam, the Netherlands on the day of the accession of Queen Beatrix, 30 April 1980. It was the biggest episode of such disturbances in the country since the end of World War II and the most significant event of the Dutch squatters' movement.

Background

Since the 1960s and 1970s, squatting became a commonplace movement in protest against the shortage of housing in Amsterdam. Many of these protesters were youngsters of the baby boom generation. Some of the biggest riots were the 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

Beatrix ascended the throne on 30 April 1980, and squatters started to riot. The protesters were rallying under the slogan Geen woning, geen kroning, which translates to 'No house, no coronation'. Despite the presence of 10,000 police officers, gendarmes and some military officers, the event turned into a major clash. The riots were centred around the Dam Square, where the new Queen's inauguration took place. Clashes also happened in and around Blauwbrug, Rokin and Vondelstraat.
One of the protesters, Karel Fassotte, claimed in an interview that apart from squatters, people taking part included ordinary students, football hooligans and others.
It marked a milestone in the post-war peaceful history of the Netherlands. 600 people were wounded.

Aftermath

The squatters' movement had much support for their cause beforehand, but this was depreciated following the riots. This was partly because the Dutch royal family was highly popular amongst the population, and the squatters had turned this day of accession into one of violence.
A new police leadership in Amsterdam started to forcibly evacuate squatted buildings, including through special means.
In 2010, the Dutch parliament voted to ban squatting entirely.