Amid a continued rise in antisemitism in the Netherlands, ranging from verbal abuse and online hate to physical threats and attacks on Jewish institutions, and increasingly affecting the daily lives and visibility of Jewish citizens, the Dutch government is intensifying its efforts to combat the phenomenon, drawing in part on the recommendations of the Taskforce on Combating Antisemitism’s final report, “Trapped in Freedoms.”
The strategy is being implemented in close cooperation across several ministries, including Justice and Security, Education, Culture and Science, Social Affairs and Employment, and Health, with the Ministry of Justice and Security playing a coordinating role.
The Dutch Strategy to Combat Antisemitism 2024–2030 introduces a comprehensive set of measures structured around three pillars: protection and enforcement, education and prevention, and remembrance and awareness. It also allocates additional resources to enhance the security of Jewish institutions, events, and schools.
Beyond enforcement, the government aims to strengthen, increase the visibility of, and celebrate Jewish life in the Netherlands, notably through the development of a National Plan for Jewish Life.
A significant share of the Taskforce’s recommendations is directed at higher education institutions. The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science has therefore called on universities and colleges to take these recommendations seriously, to stand up for the Jewish community, and to address any situations that create unsafe learning or working environments.
More broadly, schools are expected to remain safe and inclusive spaces where young people learn mutual respect, regardless of background, alongside a solid understanding of religions, including Judaism, and the history of the Holocaust.
