(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa practitioners in the Netherlands held two informational events in Utrecht and Amsterdam to tell people about the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) ongoing persecution of their practice. On September 14, 2025, they set up an information booth in Utrecht, in front of the city’s central train station. They followed up with a similar event in Amsterdam on October 3.
At both events, Dutch citizens and tourists learned about Falun Dafa. They expressed their support for practitioners’ efforts to raise awareness for practitioners in China who have endured persecution at the hands of the CCP for over 26 years. Many people signed the practitioners’ petition calling to stop the CCP’s state-sanctioned forced organ harvesting that targets practitioners in China.
Information Booth in the “Heart of the Netherlands”
Utrecht is the fourth-largest city in the Netherlands, and its central location has given it the nickname “Heart of the Netherlands.” It is also known for the story of Saint Martin, who cut his coat in half to share with a freezing beggar. This act of compassion is symbolized in the city’s emblem, which is half red and half white.
Hundreds of people passed by the practitioners’ booth outside of Utrecht Centraal, the city’s main train station. Many stopped to read the banners and speak with practitioners, learning about the persecution for the first time.
Practitioners raised awareness outside of Utrecht’s central train station.
Among those who stopped to learn more were Eduardo Dumont and his friend Isa Bakker.
Eduardo Dumont and Isa Bakker talked with practitioners.
Dumont, a graduate of the SAE Institute Amsterdam in film production, said he had lived in China for years with his parents. He is familiar with the CCP’s censorship and surveillance through platforms like WeChat. Despite the risks, Eduardo courageously shared his thoughts on record and expressed interest in posting the petition link on WeChat to help more Chinese people learn the truth.
“After hearing everything about [the persecution,] I think it’s really not okay,” he said. “[Forced organ harvesting] sounds like something from a movie. The Chinese people are very suppressed—they don’t have a voice or even access to this kind of information. I lived in China for a long time, so I feel for them. I think it’s up to the people around them to help, and to help the few people there who believe in this to have a voice as well.”
He said Falun Dafa’s core principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance resonated with him, and said that it was “totally wrong” for the CCP to suppress these values. “People should have the right to believe in whatever they want, especially if it promotes humanity and these kinds of values. If you ban these types of things, then you’re banning a lot more than just a small practice—you’re banning human rights and the wellness of human beings,” said Dumont.
Isa Bakker, a singer and musician, was deeply moved by the spiritual culture of China that Falun Dafa embodies, and its suppression under the CCP.
“I think everyone should be free to practice any form of meditation or religion, as long as it’s not harmful to others. And this doesn’t seem harmful—it seems calming, something that gives people peace and something to hold on to. I agree with Eduardo and everything he said about the organ harvesting,” she said.
Marloen van de Kanver signed the petition.
One local resident, Marloen van de Kanver, signed the petition and received a lotus flower charm from a practitioner. She smiled and said, “Wow, very nice!”
Hardy Kader signed the petition.
Hardy Kader, from the city of Ede, signed the petition along with his friend Naman Ali after learning about the persecution.
Information Day in Amsterdam
Amsterdam is not just the capital of the Netherlands; it also has a rich history of tolerance, free expression, and human rights. The practitioners set up their information booth in the heart of the city, Dam Square, a sightseeing spot for both Dutch and foreign tourists.
Many locals and tourists stopped to learn more. Some were visibly shocked by the scale and cruelty of the persecution. Others expressed support for the practitioners’ peaceful resistance and the values of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance that Falun Dafa promotes.
Raising awareness at Dam Square in Amsterdam on October 3
Among the many passersby who stopped to learn more were three young men from Dublin, Ireland: Jock Smith, Sacha O’Caroll, and Ethn Dante. After reading the informational banners and speaking with practitioners, they signed the petition calling for an end to the CCP’s forced organ harvesting which targets Falun Dafa practitioners.
Three young men from Dublin signed the petition.
After signing, they shook hands with practitioners. Jock said, “You are doing a good job—keep it up!” They were pleased to learn that Falun Dafa is also practiced in Ireland, and expressed interest in learning more about the practice.
During the event in Amsterdam, two Dutch citizens—Erwin Boven, a quality controller, and John van Ballegooijen, a business owner in house clearance—stopped to speak with practitioners and learn more about the persecution of Falun Dafa in China.
Dutch citizens Erwin Boven (left) and John van Ballegooijen (right)
After hearing about the CCP’s brutal campaign—including forced organ harvesting and suppression of spiritual belief—they both signed the petition calling for an end to the persecution. They expressed strong support for raising awareness, and praised the practitioners for their efforts.
Ballegooijen condemned the CCP’s practice of forced organ harvesting. “It’s outrageous that these things happen! This is the opposite of love. This is the satanic spirit behind communism. It’s a demonic, anti-human spirit. It’s heart wrenching,” he said.
Boven agreed. “This is heartbreaking, seeing this.” He also resonated with the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance emphasized by Falun Dafa. “There is too little of this in the world. If everyone acted according to these truths—not just talking about them, but truly living them—then we would all be in a better situation,” he said.
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