rssSep 29, 2026, 11:09

Halsema wrote letter to rapper Ye: 'Please leave Amsterdam'

Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema sent a letter to rapper Ye during his stay in the city, asking him to leave following his controversial performances in Arnhem. Although authorities and the courts allowed the concerts to proceed despite public outcry, the mayor sought to express her disapproval of the artist's history of antisemitic statements.

In June, Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema sent a letter to the rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, requesting that he leave the city following his scheduled performances. Ye had been staying at an Amsterdam hotel while preparing for concerts at the Gelredome in Arnhem, which faced significant public controversy due to the artist's history of antisemitic and pro-Nazi remarks. Although Halsema acknowledged that she lacked the legal authority to ban him from the city, she emphasized her responsibility to uphold local values and principles regarding his conduct.

Despite widespread protests and a parliamentary motion aiming to deny Ye entry into the Netherlands, the government and courts ultimately allowed the performances to proceed, finding no sufficient grounds to restrict his access or claim a threat to public order. The correspondence from the mayor was only made public recently after persistent media inquiries, marking a departure from the city's usual policy regarding private letters. Tens of thousands of fans attended the concerts, even as officials expressed their formal disagreement with the artist's presence.

Politics Culture Lifestyle Amsterdam Netherlands World

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

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