| Nieuwmarkt riots | |
| Date: | 24 March – 8 April 1975 |
| Place: | Nieuwmarkt, Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Causes: | Construction of the Amsterdam Metro |
| Result: | Future plans for additional metro lines are abandoned |
| Methods: | Rioting, protests, barricades |
| Side1: | Local residents |
| Side2: | 100+ Municipal police officers 500 Military police officers |
The Nieuwmarkt riots (Dutch: Nieuwmarktrellen), also referred to as the Amsterdam metro riots, were a series of serious disturbances in the Nieuwmarkt neighbourhood of Amsterdam, Netherlands. On 24 March 1975, which later became known as Blue Monday,[1] and on 8 April 1975, protests against the planned demolition of homes ended in confrontations with over a hundred municipal police supported by 500 military police.[2] The homes were considered by residents and protesters to be in good condition, but had to make way for the construction of the East Line tunnel of the Amsterdam metro.[3] This was needed because the construction of the 3.5 km tunnel was largely done by sinking large concrete caissons. As a result of the riots, the city council of Amsterdam decided to abandon further plans for additional metro lines.
In 1980, the Nieuwmarkt metro station was opened. It is decorated with artworks that memorialize the turbulent times.[4]