Israel is committing genocide in Palestine and our politicians, both national and local fail to act. Support our referendum and join the cause: for peace, for freedom, for Palestine.
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Welcome to the Amsterdam Palestine Referendum! We are a group of people from Amsterdam, students, early career workers, or parents, who started a campaign to organise a referendum in the municipality of Amsterdam.
Considering the complete lack of action and solidarity our politicians show with Palestine, we decided to take matters into our own hands and force the municipality to cut ties with Israel.
Because when our own government, albeit national or local, doesn’t take action, it is up to us, the people of Amsterdam, to act in solidarity with Palestine. With your help, we can push our city council to cut the ties with Israel!
In August 2025, we have submitted a petition via the council party and social movement De Vonk, demanding that the municipal council of Amsterdam break all ties with organizations complicit in human rights violations against Palestinians, and start a public awareness campaign telling people of Amsterdam what they can do to combat the genocide against Palestinians.
Although this petition got almost 4,500 signatures, the municipal council refused to take any action. This campaign therefore, was issued as a response to an identified problem of representation at the municipality level: the parties in office are not willing to act in a manner that corresponds to the opinion of the gross majority of their electorate, the people of Amsterdam, regarding the measures taken against genocide in Gaza.
Consequently, we decided to escalate and use a form of direct democracy – the municipal referendum – to force the municipal government of Amsterdam to break its ties with Israeli companies and organisations.
We contend that our municipality needs to take a firm stand regarding the ongoing genocide in Palestine and join the global BDS campaign (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions). This campaign was launched and led by Palestinians who strive for freedom, justice, and equality for the Palestinian people.
In doing so, Amsterdam would follow the example of dozens of other cities around the world that have already endorsed BDS guidelines. This way we can push Israeli companies profiting from the genocide, but also products made on stolen land, out of our city and even stop Israeli officials (military, political) from visiting Amsterdam.
And as we know, the Netherlands is by far the biggest funder of Israel in the EU, in recent years making up two-thirds of all EU-investments in Israel; thus, the Netherlands directly contributes to the bombs dropped on Palestine. Considering that Amsterdam is one of the main financial cores of the country, Amsterdam pulling out and starting to boycott Israeli companies complicit or actively participating in the genocide would absolutely have an effect.
Next to these measures, it would also be a symbolic sign, firstly to Dutch politicians, but also to Israel and the rest of the world. Amsterdam is an internationally known city, so Amsterdam breaking ties would be an example to other cities.
Our demands:
- Officially recognise that Israel is committing crimes against humanity against the Palestinians.
- Provide full transparency about municipal ties with Israel, including companies and organisations complicit in Israeli human rights violations.
- End all procurement or tendering with Israeli and other institutions and companies linked to Israeli human rights violations.
- Terminate all ties with Israeli institutions and other complicit (lobbying) institutions.
- As a municipality, impose a cultural and sporting boycott on Israel.
- Call on the private sector to end cooperation and trade with Israel and encourage the sector to do so by offering material support and procedures.
- Encourage and inform citizens in Amsterdam by launching an awareness campaign about Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) and how they can purchase ethically responsible products.
- Call on the national government and the Province of North Holland to respect international law and human rights and to support the BDS movement.
- Call on educational institutions in Amsterdam to cut all ties with Israeli educational institutions.
- Call on other cities and countries to follow the example of the BDS movement and, where relevant, impose an arms embargo and economic sanctions against Israel.
Do you share our concerns and our anger? Join us and help us realise this referendum! Check out the “We and you?” page!