Dutch King Visits Hague Synagogue, Assures Jewish Community of Support

King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands made a special visit to the Jewish community in The Hague, marking 300 years since the establishment of the local synagogue. The visit, conducted under heavy police security, aimed to express solidarity with a community experiencing growing feelings of isolation since the October 7th Hamas attacks.

During the visit, the King emphasized that "the silent majority in the Netherlands must stand by our Jewish community and say: do not touch them." He also clarified to community members that "Jews are not responsible for what is happening in Israel" and pledged to work on raising awareness of their situation. Sid Wagenaar, a youth activist in the community of about 300 households, told the King that while Jews often feel alone, his visit demonstrated they are still part of the Netherlands. He also distinguished between being connected to Israel and the Israeli government, a nuance he noted many people miss.

Community members shared personal stories illustrating their insecurity, such as a woman afraid to call a taxi, children changing schools, and individuals hiding their Star of David necklaces. Rabbi Asher Voolman noted that Jewish life encompasses more than media focus on Israel and antisemitism, stating, "People need to feel safe here. Everyone should be able to be who they are." He also mentioned sending a letter of support to a nearby mosque after it was vandalized.

The "Beit Yehuda" synagogue, also known as the "Portuguese Synagogue," was built in 1726. After falling into disuse during World War II, it was renovated and reopened in 1976. The Jewish community itself, founded in 1930, is considered the oldest liberal Jewish community in the Netherlands. The visit occurs amidst strained relations between Israel and the Netherlands, which have worsened significantly since the start of the recent conflict, accompanied by a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents in Dutch cities.