This book was written around 13 years ago about the murder of a liberal white provocateur by a radical Muslim youth. Events of the past decade and a half have only made exploring the narratives behind these even more relevant and I suppose the first order of credit is that despite speaking about a certain event in the past it still seems a very very contemporary book.

Murder in Amsterdam (despite the noir-ish title) is not a dramatisation of a real-life incident. The book is pure non-fiction and has some stunning passages of insight and reflection about multiculturalism, liberalism, modern-Islam and also exploring not just history but also solutions to these.

Unfortunately they're buried under a labyrinth of rambling prose which is structured in a manner difficult to understand and keep you hooked. It was at no point boring, but I could never develop a mental-model about what I was ingesting and where it was going till the end of the book. And so we veer from a history of migration into the Dutch nation, their politics, post-war guilt and its manifestations today, different views on multiculturalism, liberal values, conservative anchors and what not from a variety of perspectives. And Buruma's analysis is mostly always tremendously on point, he is probably as close to 'objective' as we're going to get in these times, no one really comes out looking very well by the end of the book.

It's just a bit difficult to digest though for a casual reader and I finished with a hotch-potch of information about the modern Netherlands and Europe. Perhaps readers with more skin-in-the-game or more cued in to the local zeitgeist will appreciate it better if they don't have to unpack an non-chronological narrative of history and its analysis together. 4 stars for content and 2 stars for readability.


and prescient

Did not love this book. Divorced from any of my opinions on the subject matter, I feel Buruma did a bad job explaining many of the concepts he was leaning on. Mostly I'm just mad about how poorly he explained the concept of "pillars" in Dutch society. Christ. I feel he expected the reader to have a much better knowledge of Dutch history than most people do, making me wonder who he wrote this book for. Americans? English speakers? The Dutch? Not a book I would recommend, but it's fine I guess.

My experience with this work is a bit interesting. People who tend to oppose "multi-cultural democracies of difference" seem to me to hate this work for "apologizing" Islamic extremists. People who tend to desire a multicultural and a blanket tolerance policy in the conception for Western cultural identity tend to hate it for "celebrating" right wing politicians in opposition to Islam.

I think this book is so full of primary sources that it is hard to immediately identify the opinion of the author. I think it is a very useful exploration of these important issues. Is as Popper said, "the tolerance of intolerance" impossible? How can democracy survive when people use democratic institutions to undermine democracy? These are important issues of our day explored by Buruma with grace and no short amount of engrossing storytelling. We are placed in the perspective of Dutch politicians, immigrants and everyday persons, and are confronted with these compelling multi-national issues where public policy meets everyday life.

I recently started reading "Murder in Amsterdam" about the death of Dutch filmaker Theo Van Gogh and the "limits of tolerance". He was killed by a young, angry Muslim man, a Dutch-Morroccan on a bicycle a few months after I arrived in the Netherlands in Nov. 2004. It was an emblematic crime: he was shot several times then had his throat cut with a curved machete for making the anti-Islam film "Submission" with Ayaan Hirsi Ali (also in exile, have u read anything by her "Infidel" or "The Caged Virgin"?).... The author describes how this murder shocked Holland and the world... So he tries to make sense of what happened or is happening: "the collapse of multiculturalism and the end of a sweet dream of tolerance and light in the most progressive little enclave of Europe". A brave brook which resonates in a most chilling way...

Some interesting interviews, observations, and perspectives.

Fairly in depth investigation and analysis of the societal collision of liberal Holland and Muslim culture in the form of immigrants and refugees! One of the results culminated in the killing of Theo van Gogh in the streets of Amsterdam. It presents fascinating information and background about why Muslims resist assimilation into their adopted country as well as personal histories of some controversial immigrants like Ayaan Hirsi Ali. The only problem for me was trying to comprehend the accent of the reader of the audio book.

4.5 stars. Can't recommend this highly enough - an exploration of the "clash" of European Enlightenment, Islamic ideology, liberalism, conservatism, national mythology, and national reality. After the murder of the provocative Dutch filmmaker Theo Van Gogh by a Muslim extremist, Buruma went back to his homeland of the Netherlands to interview people of all different backgrounds about the place of Muslim immigrants in European society. Just as relevant today as it was a decade ago.

Perfect timing for this book. Takes a very critical look at modern-day Netherlands and its so-called liberal, enlightened politics. Opens a wound with the controversial TV host/Filmmaker Theo van Gogh's murder. Includes Ayaan Hirsi Ali role along with many references to WWII guilt and inabilities to cope with looming religious/social problems.

Ayaan was just sent back to Holland a few days ago, as there is not enough protection for her here in NYC.
What struck me most was the author's depiction of these public/political figures as using liberal, freethinking ideologies as an excuse to say anything they want.
I think that is a very real and modern issue. Freedom of speech should not be used as a podium for childish insults and irresponsible antics. Those in the public eye should not think they are immune to any repercussions for their actions. If we hope to achieve success in living in cosmopolitan societies there needs to be a balance between homogeny and individualism. Knowing where the lines of morals, ethics, religions and "the law" can not be crossed require much more than the blanket statement of "separation of Church and State". It is going to be a continuous struggle to accommodate multiple cultures to live harmoniously. The first step is education.

Very interesting read from an author who knows Amsterdam very well.

I think overall, Buruma is informed by the reality that the violence practiced by political Islam today is not unique to Islam, but rather manifests itself in all religions/ideologies. “Messianic violence can attach itself to any creed” as he illustrates through the tribal aggression of Dutch soccer fans. (p.261)
Moreover, he notes that some of the aspect of Western culture that we take for granted, and rail against Islam for its backwardness on, are a relatively recent phenomenon for us. For example, in the 1937 the Catholic minister for social affairs in Holland wanted to ban all women from working, and “until 1954, women in government jobs were automatically fired when they got married. These were thought to be necessary measures to protect family life.” (p.123) he also notes that that Anti-Semitism was alive and well in the Netherlands until the late 1960s (p.86), while the first serious study of the Holocaust was not published in the Netherlands until 1965 (p.81)
Unfortunately, he notes that the intolerance is alive and well today – citing one mainstream politician who told Buruma that “one must never underestimate the degree of hatred that the Dutch people feel for Moroccan and Turkish immigrants. My political success is based upon the fact that I was prepared to listen to such people.” (p.64)

Overall, a very stimulating read that forces us to ask hard questions of ourselves.

It's truly surprising in a sad way how a book written more than ten years ago is still so valid now. Most of it still applies to today's European migratory movements.

This book was interesting and was a quick read. I wish it had more background and was more in depth. I know this style of book probably satisfies more readers, but I prefer non-fiction with a little more "meat."

Not really worth the bother. Filled with unsubstantiated assumptions, written in the stilted English that wants admiration because it's well written for a Dutchman, but bears no reading because of its stiffness. Waste of time and paper.