The Nieuwmarkt riots (Dutch: Nieuwmarktrellen), also referred to as the Amsterdam metro riots, were a series of serious disturbances in the Nieuwmarkt neighbourhood of Amsterdam, Netherlands. On 24 March 1975, which later became known as Blue Monday,[1] and on 8 April 1975, protests against the planned demolition of homes[quantify] ended in confrontations with over a hundred municipal police supported by 500 military police.[2] The homes were considered by residents and protesters to be in good condition, but had to make way for the construction of the East Line tunnel of the Amsterdam metro.[3] This was needed because the construction of the 3.5 km tunnel was largely done by sinking large concrete caissons.[citation needed] As a result of the riots, the city council of Amsterdam decided to abandon further plans for additional metro lines.[4]

Nieuwmarkt riots
Nieuwmarkt Riots on 24 March 1975
Date24 March – 8 April 1975
Location
Nieuwmarkt, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Caused byConstruction of the Amsterdam Metro
MethodsRioting, protests, barricades
Resulted inFuture plans for additional metro lines are abandoned
Parties
Local residents
100+ Municipal police officers
500 Military police officers

In 1980, the Nieuwmarkt metro station was opened. It is decorated with artworks that memorialize the turbulent times.[5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Christopher Catling (1 June 2003). Travellers Amsterdam. Thomas Cook Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84157-261-1.
  2. ^ Verstraete, Ginette (2013). "Underground Visions". Paris-Amsterdam Underground. Essays on Cultural Resistance, Subversion, and Diversion. Amsterdam University Press. pp. 77–96. doi:10.1515/9789048518203-008. ISBN 9789089645050. JSTOR j.ctt6wp6td.10.
  3. ^ "Civil unrest: Nieuwmarkt ABC". City Archives of Amsterdam. Archived from the original on 22 February 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  4. ^ Mens, Noor (2004). ZZDP, architecten-ondernemers (in Dutch). 010 Publishers. pp. 15, 59. ISBN 9789064505133.
  5. ^ Susan S. Fainstein (22 July 2010). The Just City. Cornell University Press. pp. 146–. ISBN 978-0-8014-6218-4.