paroolSep 8, 2026, 15:21

Mayor Halsema: demonstration in the IJ tunnel on day of public transport strike is too dangerous

Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema has warned that a planned protest involving walking or cycling through the IJ tunnel is too dangerous due to safety risks for participants and traffic. Although organizer Ed van Leeuwen argues that tunnel closures are feasible for other events, the mayor insisted that the demonstration must follow existing traffic laws.

Amsterdam resident Ed van Leeuwen planned a demonstration to highlight accessibility issues in Amsterdam-Noord, intending to lead fifty people on foot or by bicycle through the IJ tunnel to the city center during a public transport strike. Mayor Femke Halsema issued a response strongly discouraging the protest, citing significant safety risks due to high-speed motorized traffic and limited visibility for pedestrians and cyclists within the tunnel. The mayor noted that while the right to demonstrate is protected, it does not exempt participants from obeying traffic laws that prohibit non-motorized vehicles in the tunnel. Emergency services and traffic experts unanimously agreed that the plan posed severe dangers to both the protesters and other road users.

Van Leeuwen expressed frustration with the mayor's stance, pointing out that the tunnel is regularly closed for events like the Dam tot Damloop and the Dam tot Dam Fietsclassic. Despite his disappointment, Halsema clarified that the demonstration must take place on routes where cycling and walking are legally permitted, offering alternative options for the group to express their concerns.

Politics

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Based on reporting by parool. Translated and condensed by LocalHeadlines.

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