A tourist visiting the exotic city of Amsterdam might come across Sikhs who, besides practicing other professions, own most of the over fifty restaurants that serve Indian cuisine. He often inquires about the presence of Sikhs in Holland and their present position. There are seven Gurdwaras in Holland (Amsterdam 3, Den Haag 2, Rotterdam 1, Almere 1). Since April 1999 on Vaisakhi day- the 3rd centenary of the birth day of the Khalsa, big Nagar Kirtans (City processions) are taking place every year deep into the center of big cities like Amsterdam and Den Haag. One can't miss the presence of these traditional people with their great history. As a moral duty and to keep the history of the Sikhs living in Holland up-to-date, I decided to write this article. Moreover, when you spend 35 years of your life in a country, some love and emotion is bound to develop.

Undoubtedly, these sentiments are of a different nature than those associated with Amritsar where besides spending my childhood, getting an education and participating in sports, I had enjoyed the warmth that is so characteristic of that ‘city of the Guru'. There is still no substitute for the visits to the Golden Temple and the other Gurdwaras, and the six years spent at Khalsa College.

In 1975 both Amsterdam and Amritsar celebrated their seventh centenary and quatercentenary respectively, but indescribably in different ways. To celebrate the centenary of Amsterdam, old ships belonging to several countries were sent to the seaport for the people to see. The Mayor received messages and letters of congratulations from several governments and organizations around the world, including the UNO, now preserved as a book in the library of Amsterdam.

On the other hand, in which library would you see preserved all messages and letters of congratulations sent by the Indian President, Prime Minister, Ministers, Governors and other political leaders on the eve of the quatercentenary celebrations of Amritsar? And published by the SGPC wherein they had at first paid glowing tributes to the Golden Temple, the Akal Takht, the Sikh Gurus, Sikhs and the citizens of that city? After a few years they destroyed that very library by sending the army that resulted in the death of thousands of innocent devotees. (Editor's note: The author is referring to the 1984 attack on the Golden Temple.)

In the 720 years' history of Amsterdam, the 80 years of slavery under Spain (85 years in the whole of Holland) and the years of the first and the second World Wars may be called the Dark Age. Hitler had captured Jews, the permanent citizens of this city, and got them killed after subjecting them to inhuman torture in the camps of Germany, Poland and others.