March 29, 2025, Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands: A pro-Palestinian demonstrator burns a hand-fashioned Israeli flag. Photo: James Petermeier/ZUMA Press Wire via Reuters Connect

In a world increasingly obsessed with slogans of justice, equity, and human rights, one would expect fairness to be the minimum standard. But when it comes to Israel, particularly in the Netherlands, fairness is replaced by something more dangerous: ideological hostility cloaked in concern. This is not just a political debate anymore, it’s a cultural fault line. And the Dutch, knowingly or not, are choosing sides.

Prejudice Disguised as Policy

For years, the Netherlands has championed policies that subtly but deliberately isolate Israel. One glaring example is the support for labeling goods from Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria — territories that hold historical and religious meaning for the Jewish people. The move was framed as a “consumer’s right to know,” but make no mistake: its ideological roots lie in the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, a campaign that singularly targets Israel while ignoring far graver human rights crises globally.

The consequences have been far-reaching. Israeli companies operating in those areas, like SodaStream, were pressured to close or relocate. Hundreds of Arab workers lost their livelihoods. Those were real families, real incomes, real bridges between peoples burned down in the name of “justice.”

The Dutch political landscape has seen figures like former minister Sigrid Kaag, once hailed as a diplomatic asset, who maintained personal ties with factions historically linked to terrorism against Israel. Millions of euros flowed from Dutch taxpayers to so-called aid groups, some later revealed to have ties to Hamas. Yet, the Dutch media treated these revelations with a shrug. The public barely blinked. It’s easier to blame Israel than to confront uncomfortable truths.

October 7 and the Media’s Cowardice

On October 7, the world witnessed some of the most horrific atrocities since the Holocaust. Civilians in Israel were hunted down, raped, and incinerated in their homes. Children watched their parents die. Families were torn apart, literally and emotionally.

And how did the Dutch media respond? By refusing to air unfiltered footage. By downplaying the horror. By quickly pivoting to criticisms of Israel’s military response. Dutch outlets, especially the national broadcaster, NOS, have become masters of omission. They soften terror and amplify outrage only when it comes from the other side.

This behavior is not new. The Netherlands still struggles with its own wartime record. While many Dutch citizens bravely resisted Nazi rule and protected their Jewish neighbors, far too many were complicit. Nearly 75% of Dutch Jews perished in the Holocaust, a higher percentage than in many neighboring countries. Jews were betrayed for mere coins. And society moved on, barely looking back.

That same culture of denial and selectivity plays out today, but in a new context: the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Jews again are cast as aggressors, their suffering minimized, their right to self-defense delegitimized.

Hidden Histories, Buried Guilt

Recently, a chance conversation brought an older wound into focus. A Muslim woman from my neighborhood, whose ancestors were taken from Indonesia to Suriname, told me her great-grandmother was kidnapped from a market by colonial authorities and shipped to South America. That history, Indonesian slavery under Dutch rule, is scarcely acknowledged in the Netherlands.

Why is that? Because it complicates the neat image the Dutch like to project: tolerant, progressive, just. Admitting the full extent of their own past would make their finger-pointing at Israel uncomfortable. But moral clarity demands consistency, not convenience.

The silence from Dutch officials and media outlets regarding Israeli suffering today is not benign. It’s a choice. A choice to ignore the kidnapped children. A choice to stay quiet while rockets rain down. A choice to sympathize with those who glorify martyrdom rather than those who grieve.

Dutch society selectively grieves. Where is the outrage over Hamas’ charter, which openly calls for the annihilation of Jews? Where are the Dutch street protests when Israeli civilians are murdered in cold blood? Why is it only Israel that is expected to show restraint while facing existential threats?

Moreover, why does the Netherlands still support institutions like UNRWA, whose employees have been linked to terror activities, and whose curriculum continues to fuel hatred?

A Call for Courage

To my fellow Dutch citizens, I say this: reflect. Examine the real-world consequences of the narratives you embrace. You cannot claim to champion justice while standing silent when Jews are massacred. You cannot wave the banner of human rights while denying Israel the right to defend its people.

History is watching, just as it did 80 years ago. The same questions apply: Will you speak up? Will you stand for truth, even when it’s uncomfortable?

Or will you remain silent … again?

Am Yisrael Chai. The People of Israel live. Even when surrounded by lies. Even when abandoned by friends. Even when history repeats itself.

Sabine Sterk is the CEO of Time To Stand Up For Israel.