Amsterdam men's march faces criticism before it begins
Organisers want men to address safety, but critics ask why women are not at the centre of the march.
A Men's March will take place in Amsterdam on Saturday, running from Dam Square to Museumplein. The organisers say they want men to visibly take responsibility for the safety of women and children; the choice of a march initially aimed only at men has drawn criticism in advance.
The march is due to begin at 10.00am on Saturday at Dam Square, according to the organisers. The initiative is aimed at men who want to speak out against sexism, abuse and violence. The procession will end at Museumplein, where women and other interested people are invited to join the participants. The organisation thus presents the march as a starting point for a broader social movement, not as a demonstration against a single political party.
The criticism is mainly about the format. In a march about women's safety, women are not taking part as the main group, even though their experiences are the subject. The organisers say that women have already organised many demonstrations and that men must now take responsibility themselves. At the same time, their website says that women are welcome at the reception on Museumplein and that the precise format is still being developed.
The initiative was prompted by a broader sense of insecurity in public spaces. Earlier, research by the RTL Nieuwspanel and LINDA.meiden found that one in six women had experienced a situation in the preceding year in which they felt unsafe. Among women aged 18 to 35, that proportion was one in four, according to the research. These figures concern perceived insecurity and do not automatically indicate how many criminal offences took place.
The organisers emphasise behaviour and culture. They say they do not view all men as perpetrators, but that men should more often challenge one another and reflect on their behaviour around power, alcohol, sex and rejection. This shifts the discussion from protecting women to men's responsibility. Critics could argue in response that such a message only has meaning if women are not merely an audience or symbol, but also have influence over the content and the safety agenda.
A march can attract attention and start a conversation, but in itself it changes nothing about people's willingness to report offences, street lighting, support services or prosecution. Its social significance therefore depends on what happens after Saturday. The organisation says participants should remain involved from 11 October onwards. It is not yet possible to determine whether the initiative will grow into a lasting network or remain mainly a one-off public signal.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The march is organised by a group that wants to address men about safety.
- Women are invited to the arrival, but are not taking part as the main group.
- RTL research reported high levels of perceived insecurity among women.
Left
Arguments Gender-based violence requires structural change in power relations and space for women's own experiences. A men's march can be useful if men listen and take responsibility, but not if they take over the debate.
Values Equality, autonomy, inclusion and protection from violence.
Consequences A broadly supported initiative can raise awareness; an exclusive format may instead provoke distrust or reinforce existing roles.
Centre
Arguments It is reasonable for men to organise around behaviour they themselves can influence, provided women's organisations, the police, support services and local government remain involved in the next steps.
Values Practical cooperation, proportionality and demonstrable social impact.
Consequences The march will acquire meaning if it leads to concrete agreements and lasting cooperation, not merely visibility on a single day.
Right
Arguments Safety is a shared norm and should not be approached solely as a conflict between men and women. Holding men to account is stronger than collectively blaming everyone.
Values Personal responsibility, social order and equal treatment.
Consequences A non-accusatory message may reach more men, but critics say it may insufficiently address the structural causes of violence.
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.
The practical information and the objective were checked directly with the organisation. The figures on perceived insecurity are limited to what the RTL research actually measures.
- confirmed The Men's March will take place on Saturday from Dam Square to Museumplein. — The organisers give the date, starting point and endpoint on their website. source
- confirmed One in six women and one in four young women reported an unsafe situation in the preceding year. — These figures appear in the RTL Nieuwspanel research. source
- confirmed The organisation wants to hold men accountable for their responsibility for safety. — This is the core of the Men’s Manifesto and the organisation’s text. source
Editor's note
The date, route and objective come from the organisers. The figures on perceived insecurity come from RTL research; the march itself is not evidence that the societal problems mentioned have been resolved.Sources
More on this in Dutch media
- AD — „mannenmars amsterdam”
- de Volkskrant — „mannenmars amsterdam”
- RTL Nieuws — „mannenmars amsterdam”