21 November 1981

No Nuclear Weapons

On 21 November 1981 a large demonstration against the storing nuclear weapons in Europe took place in Amsterdam. Although there were protests in many countries, the demonstrations in the Netherlands were among the largest. Almost a million people came to the meetings in 1981 and 1983, which led to the movement being called 'Hollanditis' or 'Dutch Disease'. The accompanying poster of a woman kicking a cruise missile designed by the Dutch artist Opland became widely known. One of Opland's previous designs - the one shown above -  was not accepted. The slogan in the definitive version was more pointed as well: 'No new nuclear weapons in Europe' rather than 'No nuclear weapons'.

See also:

•  Archief Amsterdams 21 november Komitee
•  Archief Komitee Kruisraketten Nee (Den Haag)
•  Archief Landelijk Organisatiecomité 21 november (Amsterdam)

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