2025 pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses in the Netherlands

2025 pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses in the Netherlands
Part of the 2025 pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses and the Gaza war protests
Section (well-being corner) of the pro-Palestine student encampments at the Utrecht University library's courtyard.
Date	January 2025 – present
Location	Universities throughout the Netherlands
Caused by	Israeli invasion of Gaza and Dutch university ties with Israeli organizations
Goals	End to Dutch university ties with Israeli academic and research institutions Divestment from Israel and companies supplying the Israeli military Greater transparency about institutional collaborations
Methods	Protests Encampments Walkouts Occupations Sit-ins Teach-ins
Status	Ongoing

The 2025 pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses in the Netherlands are a series of demonstrations, encampments, and building occupations by students and staff at Dutch universities, demanding an end to institutional ties with Israeli academic and research organizations in response to the ongoing war in Gaza and Israeli military actions on the genocide of Palestinians.^[1][2][3][4]

Protests against the genocide in Gaza and Dutch university ties with Israeli institutions began as early as October 2023, but escalated in the spring of 2025 following the Israeli offensive in Rafah, the increased awareness of war crimes committed by the Israeli army, and the spread of campus protests in the United States and Europe.^[5]

An investigation revealed that Dutch universities are involved in at least 28 EU-funded research projects with Israeli partners that may benefit the Israeli military, despite rules mandating civilian-only use.^[6] Demonstrators called for an academic boycott of Israel, divestment from companies supplying the Israeli military, and full transparency about institutional collaborations.^[5][7]

On 30 January, police ended an occupation by Palestine Solidarity Tilburg in the glass corridor of the Cobbenhagen building at Tilburg University. Around 40 protesters, including students and staff, opposed the university’s refusal to cut ties with Israeli institutions. Most demonstrators left voluntarily after a police order, but five remained seated and were escorted out without arrests. Protesters demanded either delivery of an open letter to Rector Wim van de Donk or a public debate. The university declined, stating it is open to dialogue but not under pressure, framing building occupation as a red line.^[8][9]

On 14 April, dozens of pro-Palestinian activists occupied the Maagdenhuis, the main administration building of the University of Amsterdam. Staff were ordered to leave, entrances were barricaded, and banners and Palestinian flags were displayed from the windows.^[1][2][4] The occupiers demanded the immediate severance of all ties with Israeli institutions. The university refused to negotiate with masked occupiers and filed a police report.^[1][4] The protests ended with police intervention.^[10][11]

On 2 June, demonstrators re-established a protest encampment on the Roeterseiland campus, demanding the university sever all ties with Israeli institutions and companies alleged to be complicit in genocide in Gaza. The protest follows similar actions earlier in May and has drawn over 50 participants. Demonstrators renamed the campus "Alaa al-Najjar Campus" in memory of a Gazan doctor who lost most of her family in an Israeli airstrike. UvA advisory councils had recently urged the suspension of collaborations with Israeli academic institutions. While UvA rector Peter-Paul Verbeek acknowledged for the first time the presence of genocidal violence in Gaza, he has yet to adopt the councils’ recommendations.^[12]

On 22 April, 400 TU Delft full professors received information packages as part of a grassroots initiative to raise awareness about the role of the university in the ongoing alleged genocide, possible actions, and pathways to change. Organized by the Delft Student Intifada, TU Delft staff, students, and allies, the packages included Maya Wind’s book Towers of Ivory and Steel and custom flyers.^[13][14] Institutions like TU Delft work on dual-use technologies with companies like Israel Aerospace Industries.^[6]

On 5 June, over a hundred pro-Palestinian protesters peacefully occupied the TU Delft Library. The demonstration began near the Pulse building and proceeded across campus with chants like "Free, free Palestine". Later, the group entered the library and unfurled a banner criticizing TU Delft's ties with the Israel military complex. The protest has so far remained peaceful, with no police or security intervention.^[15][16]

On 6 May, a demonstration at the Leiden University Wijnhaven building in The Hague escalated when a small group of protesters barricaded themselves inside, prompting police intervention.^[17] While most demonstrators left peacefully, those who refused were arrested after attempting to flee through emergency exits.^[18] The university cited safety concerns, property damage, and disruption to teaching as reasons for involving law enforcement.^[19] Reports indicated that over 70 people were arrested and several protesters were injured.^[20][21] The university has established a committee to review collaborations with Israeli institutions.^[22]

On 7 May, at Radboud University, activists briefly occupied the Berchmanianum building. A university representative refused to negotiate with the protesters.^[3] Police operations at the campus led to three arrests, with some incidents involving the use of batons and police dogs, leading to a protester sustaining injuries from a bite of a police dog.^[3] On 13 May, demonstrators re-established an encampment near the Huygens building on campus, which lasted uninterrupted until 1 June.^[23][24]

In late March, pro-Palestinian activists chained themselves to the entrance of the administration building at Utrecht University in the Utrecht Science Park, temporarily blocking access.

On 7 May, a year after the previous attempt at a student encampment in the same location, protesters set up tents and banners in the courtyard of the university's academic library.^[25][26] The encampment was established as a permanent protest site and features daily teach-ins, workshops, public lectures, documentary screenings, and community discussions. The encampment was named in honor of Palestinian journalist Hossam Shabat that was killed on 24 March 2025 by an Israeli airstrike.^[27]

On 19 May, the protesters also occupied the university building Drift 13 and were met with police intervention. Police entered the premises and forcibly removed the students. Outside of the building, several protesters were also hit with police violence, with some sustaining injuries.^[28][29] The riot police arrested 49 individuals for trespassing and transported them by bus to another location in Utrecht, with most being released later that night.^[30][31][32] The police action was criticized by several staff groups within the university and by the mayor of Utrecht.^{[33][34][35][36]}

On 3 June, protesters peacefully occupied another university building Janskerkhof 15a, citing insuficient action from the university. No lectures were disrupted. After an overnight stay, police and the Executive Board issued a final eviction warning, prompting the activists to leave the building peacefully and voluntarily.^[37][38][39]

On 13 May, activists set up a protest camp on Erasmus Plaza of the Erasmus University Rotterdam. Despite university rules prohibiting overnight stays, they were tolerated due to good communication with the university. The protest targets cuts, ties with Israeli institutions, and the fossil fuel industry. A university spokesperson affirmed that demonstrations are allowed as long as they remain peaceful and do not disrupt education, research, or safety.^[40][41]

On 25 May, a student group at Maastricht University blocked entrances to multiple university faculties in protest of the institution’s ties to Israeli universities. Protesters demanded that the university cut academic partnerships, particularly with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, citing its alleged role in normalizing Israeli policies toward Palestinians. The university building blockades lasted several hours and remained peaceful, despite some confrontations. Later in the week, the group organized additional walkouts.^[42][43][44]

On 14 March, the University of Amsterdam announced it would indefinitely suspend student exchange programmes with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, following recommendations from a university-appointed committee on "sensitive partnerships". The decision was based on concerns over the university's ties to the Israeli military and its failure to distance itself from alleged human rights violations in Gaza. Israeli students already in Amsterdam may complete their studies, but new exchanges are halted.^[45][46]

On 8 May, Tilburg University announced it had suspended institutional ties with Bar-Ilan and Reichman universities in Israel, citing their close links to the Israeli military. The decision followed a recommendation by a university-appointed commission of four professors. Attempts to initiate dialogue with the two institutions were unsuccessful, according to the university. Talks with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem are ongoing, as Tilburg noted the importance of engaging with critical voices within Israeli society.^[47]

On 16 May, Utrecht University announced it would end a research collaboration with the Israeli Ministry of Health and permanently halt its student exchange programme with the University of Haifa. While most existing collaborations will continue, the university stated it will not establish new ties with Israeli institutions for the time being. A committee will be formed to develop an ethical framework for partnerships involving countries engaged in armed conflict or human rights violations. The university also condemned Israeli actions in Gaza, citing "genocidal violence" and ongoing blockades.^[48]

On 22 May, Radboud University in Nijmegen announced it would end its institutional cooperation with Tel Aviv University and the Hebrew University. The decision followed the ongoing protests in its campus and a commission’s finding that Israel’s human rights violations in Palestine are “serious and systematic", and that those universities contribute to some of these violations.^[49][50]

On 5 June, Erasmus University Rotterdam announced the freezing of its collaborations with three Israeli universities - Bar-Ilan University, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and University of Haifa - due to concerns over potential involvement in human rights violations. Exchange programs and new research partnerships are halted, though individual academic contacts remain allowed. The decision follows a critical report from an independent advisory committee citing military ties and controversial research activities in occupied Palestinian territories.^[51][52]

• 2024 pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses in the Netherlands
• 2025 pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses
• Israel–Hamas war protests
• Academic boycott of Israel
• Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions

• academiccomplicity.nl/, website from protesters outlining the links of Dutch universities with Israel companies and institutes