The first May Day demonstration in the Netherlands was in 1890 and took place on Sunday, April 27th in Leeuwarden, because everywhere else holding May Day parades was forbidden. There were about 10,000 participants. The first newspaper on May 1 was Recht voor Allen (Right for All), the newspaper of the Sociaal-Democratische Bond (Social-Democratic Party). Its leader Domela Nieuwenhuis stated: The 1st day of May ...will be considered by the party as a public holiday and celebrated by holding, if possible, public meetings, social gatherings and processions. This set the tone. The first socialist party in the Netherlands did not call for strike, most of the manifestations were peaceful and May Day was a celebration for the whole family, with music and theatre. Yet May Day never became a national holiday in the Netherlands.
The May Day celebration in the Paleis voor Volksvlijt (Palace of Industry) in Amsterdam in 1905 was typical. The stage was quietly and efficiently decorated with red cloth around the light standards and plants, cloths hung down from the edges of the galleries; the pillars were decorated with long red ribbons, reaching down to the banners of trade unions, which were sticking up out of the ornamental plants. There were banners, singing groups and bands, signs with slogans, speeches and poems.
During the First World War, May Day was made to serve the promotion of peace. This year, the street demonstration will have a simple, sober character. No wagons with symbolic representations, no flower decorations, no big transparencies. Because the times are not suited to a festive parade. April-July 1919 saw the discussion about the 8-hour day in the Labour Law. There were many strikes, also on May 1. Eventually the Labour Law was established in July, with the eight-hour working day in a 45-hour working week.
In the 20s the Arbeiders Jeugd Centrale (Workers' Youth Central) AJC began to play an increasing role in the celebrations. They held quasi-religious consecrations and reinvented bits of folklore, like dancing around the maypole. A whistle sounds, immediately followed by music from mandolins, guitars, violins and flutes and singing. In the 30s the reduction of working time again became topical because of the crisis and unemployment. The 45-hour week had to be replaced by a 40-hour one, according to the Social-Democrats. In 1934 and 1935 there was a ban on uniforms. This was meant to thwart the brown Nazi Party, but it mainly affected the socialists. Red tulips and flags and red trousers were not allowed. SDAP suggested green flowers that have been "approved by the government prosecutor".
Source: Jan Gielkens e.a., Een dag is 't van vreugde, een dag is 't van strijd. Geïllustreerde geschiedenis van 1 Mei in Nederland. Amsterdam 1990.
- The Internationale, sung by the 'Amsterdams Socialisten Kwartet', c 1909. Jumbola Record, BG GC6/7