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Theo van Gogh commemorated in Amsterdam 20 years after his murder

Posted on by Larry
Theo van Gogh commemorated in Amsterdam 20 years after his murder

On Saturday, Amsterdam commemorates the twentieth anniversary of the murder of filmmaker Theo van Gogh. On November 2, 2004, the director and opinion leader was murdered in broad daylight by Mohammed B. in the Linnaeusstraat in Amsterdam East. Remembrance events will take place at the site of the incident, in the Oosterpark and De Balie.

The commemoration in De Balie is organized by the debate center. The event focuses on the importance of freedom of expression and the fight against violence and extremism. During the commemoration, Katja Schuurman and Olga Zuiderhoek, among others, will reenact a broadcast of Van Gogh’s talk show ‘A cheerful conversation’. Two actors play Van Gogh, but are unrecognizable themselves. His sister Jantine van Gogh will give a speech.

The commemoration is open to everyone, says De Balie. If the main hall is full, the performance can be followed via screens elsewhere in the building. The commemoration is part of the Freethinkers Festival.

On Friday evening, De Balie organized a meeting about Van Gogh’s legacy, attended by the mayor of Arnhem Ahmed Marcouch, Amsterdam councilor Marjolein Moorman and JA21 senator Annabel Nanninga.

Elsewhere in Amsterdam, the murder of Theo van Gogh will also be commemorated on Saturday. For example, a commemoration will take place at the original crime scene on Linnaeusstraat and at the De Schreeuw statue in the Oosterpark.

The filmmaker’s death is also commemorated on television. For example, the NPO broadcasts various films and series about Van Gogh. The film Interview will be shown on Saturday with Katja Schuurman in the role of a soap star who is interviewed by an elite journalist, played by Pierre Bokma.

B. murdered Van Gogh by shooting him and slitting his throat. B. then stabbed a threatening letter addressed to then MP Ayaan Hirsi Ali into the director’s body with a knife. B. is currently serving a life sentence for the murder of Van Gogh.