Hundreds of students and academics gathered at the University of Amsterdam’s Roeterseiland campus, demanding that the university administration cut all ties with Israeli institutions.
In response, the administration closed the main entrance as a precaution, and a large police presence was established around the campus.
Protesters, who were beating drums and chanting slogans in support of Palestine, urged the police to leave the campus.
Waving Palestinian flags, they carried banners that read, “UvA: Stop the lies, cut all ties, Freedom for Palestine now, Boycott Israel,” and chanted slogans such as, "Free Palestine from the river to the sea," "Israel has been a racist state since 1948," and "Zionism must fall.”
A smaller demonstration also took place last week at the Free University of Amsterdam during the opening ceremony of the new academic year.
To prevent further pro-Palestinian protests, the University of Amsterdam and Free University of Amsterdam implemented increased security measures during the opening events of the new academic year.
Entrance checks were conducted using QR codes, and participants were required to leave coats and bags outside or hand them over to security before entering the events.
In a related development, Erasmus University Rotterdam announced that it would suspend new cooperation with Israeli institutions, following a recommendation from the school’s advisory committee.
The university stated that it would review existing partnerships with Israeli institutions and added that a temporary suspension of new cooperation with Palestinian institutions was also being considered.