Red graffiti on Stopera after demonstration ended
Activist group pal_action_nl says it was responsible for the graffiti, but police have made no public conclusion on the matter.
Follow-up to: Amsterdam breaks up pro-Palestinian protest at city hall Wednesday, 7 October 2026, 23:35
The glass entrance of Amsterdam’s Stopera has been daubed with red paint after a pro-Palestinian demonstration. The words BDS NOW are among those written on the windows. The group pal_action_nl claimed responsibility for the action via Instagram.
The graffiti was discovered at the entrance to Amsterdam city hall on Thursday morning. According to AT5, several windows had been smeared with red paint. The letters BDS refer to the international Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, which calls for pressure on Israel over its treatment of Palestinians.
The group pal_action_nl wrote on Instagram that it was claiming the action and accused the municipality of having blood on its hands. That is the activist group’s account. It has not been established who actually applied the paint, nor has it been reported whether any arrests or complaints have been made.
The graffiti follows a demonstration held outside city hall on Wednesday evening. Police ended the demonstration after participants reportedly failed to follow a designated route and did not comply with police instructions. The mayor had previously allowed the demonstration to go ahead under certain conditions.
The earlier report on the demonstration had already established that Mayor Femke Halsema had ended the protest because of fears of disorder. The new development is the material damage to the Stopera and the public claim of responsibility by pal_action_nl. It is therefore not a new description of the protest itself, but a continuation of the events surrounding city hall.
According to the police’s general explanation, demonstrating in the Netherlands is a fundamental right. A mayor may impose restrictions to prevent disorder, protect health or regulate traffic. Only the mayor can end a demonstration; the police implement such a decision and facilitate the action.
As far as is publicly known, the municipality has provided no estimate of the damage or the cost of repairs. It is also not known whether the text will be fully removed before city hall is again accessible as usual. The combination of protest, graffiti and a political message is likely to prompt renewed debate about the boundary between demonstrating and causing damage.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The Stopera was daubed with graffiti after a pro-Palestinian demonstration.
- The group pal_action_nl says it was responsible.
- The demonstration was ended after police instructions were reportedly not followed, according to public reporting.
- Demonstrating is a fundamental right, and the mayor may impose restrictions to protect public order.
Left
Arguments The municipality must continue to provide space for sharp criticism of its policies and for solidarity with Palestinians, even when the message is uncomfortable. At the same time, vandalism is not part of peaceful protest and can distract attention from the political substance.
Values Freedom to demonstrate, equality and protection of minorities.
Consequences Ending a demonstration too quickly can reinforce radicalisation and distrust; clear, proportionate enforcement can instead protect public support for protest.
Centre
Arguments The institutional approach is that protest must remain possible within conditions announced in advance. When a route or safety instructions are no longer followed, intervention may be justified, while damage should be investigated separately.
Values Proportionality, public order and equal application of the rules.
Consequences This approach requires clear communication beforehand and an accountable explanation afterwards, so that both demonstrators and local residents know why intervention took place.
Right
Arguments Daubing a city hall is not a legitimate form of political pressure, because public buildings belong to all residents. The authorities must protect demonstrations, but also act quickly against damage and intimidation.
Values Property, authority and protection of public space.
Consequences Stricter enforcement may deter repetition, but an overly broad interpretation of disorder could unnecessarily restrict the right to demonstrate.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
Reporting on the graffiti, the claim of responsibility and the course of the demonstration is supported by public sources. Unconfirmed points, such as the identity of those who carried it out and any prosecution, are explicitly presented as uncertain.
- confirmed Several windows of the Stopera were daubed with red paint. — Reported and photographed by AT5. source
- confirmed BDS NOW was written on the entrance. — Described by AT5. source
- confirmed pal_action_nl claimed responsibility for the action on Instagram. — AT5 refers to the public Instagram post. source
- confirmed The Wednesday evening demonstration was ended after participants failed to follow a route or police instructions. — Reported by AT5 and In de Regio Amsterdam. source
- confirmed A mayor can restrict or end a demonstration because of disorder, health concerns or traffic. — The police’s general explanation of the Public Assemblies Act. source
Editor's note
The graffiti and the online claim of responsibility were reported by AT5. The identity of those who carried it out, the extent of the damage and any criminal prosecution have not been confirmed.Sources
- Ramen Stopera beklad na pro-Palestina demonstratie — AT5
- Politie maakt einde aan pro-Palestijnse demonstratie in Amsterdam — In de Regio Amsterdam
- Burgemeester beslist over demonstratie — Politie
The story so far
- Tuesday, 6 October 2026, 18:40 Israel warns of attacks around 7 October
- Wednesday, 7 October 2026, 12:42 Israel marks 7 October attack three years on
- Wednesday, 7 October 2026, 15:39 UAE warning puts Netanyahu under further pressure
- Wednesday, 7 October 2026, 19:37 Pro-Palestinian actions planned in eighteen Dutch cities
- Wednesday, 7 October 2026, 23:35 Amsterdam breaks up pro-Palestinian protest at city hall
- Thursday, 8 October 2026, 02:35 Halsema calls support for Hamas on Dam Square shocking and distasteful
- Thursday, 8 October 2026, 11:39 Stopera windows broken after protest disbanded
- Thursday, 8 October 2026, 17:17 Red graffiti on Stopera after demonstration ended (this article)
More on this in Dutch media
- AD — „amsterdam stopera”
- de Volkskrant — „amsterdam stopera”
- RTL Nieuws — „amsterdam stopera”