Unrest in the Jordaan and other areas of Amsterdam
Like other cities in the world Amsterdam is badly affected by the economic crisis in the 1930s. Many Amsterdammers lose their jobs. In the middle of the 1930’s about 50,000 people in the city are dependent upon unemployment benefits. This is a burden for the city. In order to reduce the debt, the council decides to economize on nearly everything, including the unemployment benefit.
Amsterdam’s unemployed don’t like this. On 4 July 1934 a protest meeting organized by the Werkloozen Strijd Comité established by the Communist Party is held in De Harmonie on the Rozengracht. From there, workers march into the city centre and scuffles break out between the demonstrators and police. Most unrest is in the Jordaan area where many of the workers live.
The rioting continues into the next day. Workers fight with the police and shops are looted. In the north of the Jordaan area barricades are erected and the bridges are opened. The police dare not enter the area. On 7 July the Amsterdam police force eventually regains control of the area.
The protests are to no avail. Cuts to the unemployment benefit are made.
Jordaan area
A working class neighbourhood of Amsterdam to the west of the Prinsengracht. To the north of the area the Noorderkerk (church) can be found on the Noordermarkt. There was an air raid shelter here during the occupation. By the entrance to the church, a bronze statue of three women can be found. This commemorates the Jordaan area riots of July 1934. On the walls of the church, there are plaques commemorating the call to strike in February 1941 and in memory of those from the neighbourhood who died during the Second World War.
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