Coronation Riots 1980

On 30 April 1980, the day Queen Beatrix was to be crowned, Amsterdam took to the streets under the slogan "No house, no coronation!" What should have been a festive day became known as the infamous Coronation Riot, the largest riot in the Netherlands since the Jordaan riot of 1934. The event would go down in history as one of the biggest peacetime disturbances, with hundreds injured, including 101 police officers.

In the 1970s, Amsterdam faced a severe shortage of affordable housing, while at the same time many buildings were empty. Young people without housing took the initiative to squat empty buildings, leading to the rise of the squatting movement. At the same time, there were plans to renovate the royal palaces, including Noordeinde Palace and Dam Palace, as part of the coronation ceremony. This infuriated squatter activists, who believed the money would be better invested in new, affordable housing. Moreover, rapidly rising youth unemployment and speculation with Amsterdam properties were causing increasing unrest.

At 2pm, the planned demonstration began at the Dokwerker, near Waterlooplein. An organised group of "Autonomists," consisting of squatters, other left-wing youths and even part of Ajax's hard core, the F-Side, were ready to march to Dam Square. Many of them were equipped with helmets and sticks. During the day, this group would grow in size as many other 'ordinary' citizens were carried away by the anger and violence of the moment.

The police, with more than 5,000 officers from different parts of the Netherlands present in Amsterdam, did all they could to prevent the protesters from reaching Dam Square. The group of protesters moved towards the Blauwbrug, where "the battle for the Blauwbrug" began. Because of the planned renovation of the new city hall near Waterlooplein, there was a lot of building material up for grabs, and the protesters took advantage of this.

While Queen Beatrix's inauguration in the New Church was in progress, high-ranking guests from home and abroad could gradually hear the sirens, helicopters and sounds of the approaching uproar. The Coronation Riot would go down in history as a day Amsterdam and the Netherlands would not soon forget.