Kanye West performed on June 6, 2026, at the Gelredome stadium in Arnhem, Netherlands, drawing a crowd of 40,000 fans despite widespread controversy over his anti-Semitic statements and imagery [1, 2]. West, 48, has faced criticism for glorifying Adolf Hitler, releasing a track titled "Heil Hitler," and selling T-shirts bearing swastikas on his website [1, 2].
Many attendees said they separated West's music from his controversial history, focusing solely on the performance. Loes Snyers, a 20-year-old Belgian student, said, "I’m not supporting all of those things he said, like it’s really controversial. But for me, I really don’t care about the backlash of all the bad stuff artists do, I really focus on the music" [1].
The Jewish organisation CIDI protested near the venue, condemning West’s anti-Semitic content. Its director, Naomi Mestrum, stated, "I know that his fans are probably coming for the music, but we cannot look away (from) the Jew-hatred that he has spread widely in the past. We are not happy with the fact that he gets such a huge stage here in the Netherlands, where other countries around us have drawn a moral line and rejected him. If you really want to make amends, you have to (make) more than just an apology on Twitter" [2].
An Amsterdam court allowed the concert to proceed, finding that it did not pose a threat to public order. This ruling contrasted with cancellations of West’s shows in the UK, France, Poland, and Italy due to similar concerns [1, 2]. West has denied being anti-Semitic and attributed his remarks to struggles with bipolar disorder [1, 2].
West is scheduled to perform next in Tirana, Albania, on July 11, and in Prague on July 25, 2026 [1, 2].
