In response to the protests, UvA published a list of cooperations with Israeli institutions and universities.[12][13] The university estimated 1.5 million euros in damages after the first week of protests.[10]
Pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses escalated in April 2024, spreading in the United States and other countries, as part of wider Gaza war protests that lasted until the summer. The escalation began on April 18 after mass arrests at the Columbia University campus occupation, led by anti-Zionist groups, in which protesters demanded the university's disinvestment from Israel over its alleged genocide in Gaza. Over 3,100 protesters were arrested in the U.S., including faculty members and professors, on over 60 campuses. On May 7, protests spread across Europe with mass arrests in the Netherlands, and five days later, 20 encampments had been established in the United Kingdom and across universities in Australia and Canada.
May 6–7: First encampment, eviction, and second occupation
On May 6, 2024 University of Amsterdam (UvA) students gathered to protest at Roeterseiland campus, demanding the university to disclose and cut off its ties with Israeli institutes and corporations.[6] An encampment was erected on the lawn of the campus thereafter, encircled by barricades made of bricks, planks and ropes.[22] Later that night, a group of people in support of Israel sought out a confrontation with demonstrators at the encampment, throwing flares and fireworks at them. They were soon driven away by the demonstrators, while the police did not attempt to intervene.[23][24] The demonstration went quiet as the night deepened. Most protestors at the encampment rested in tents.[22]
After midnight on May 7, riot police and police dogs were mobilized to raid and evict the encampment. Bulldozers were implemented to demolish the barricades, and some demonstrators tried to fight back.[24] Physical conflicts between protestors and the police took place, followed by the arrest of 169 people,[25] including a member of the Provincial Council of Gelderland.[26] At least one protester suffered head injuries,[2] while a police officer got injured as well.[3] Most people left the scene by 4:30 am.[27] Around 4 pm, over a thousand people gathered at Roeterseiland campus of University of Amsterdam, condemning the reaction from the university to call on the police for the eviction of the encampment.[28]
Later on, the protesting people marched along Weesperstraat and ended up at Oudemanhuispoort campus of University of Amsterdam. The demonstrators soon took over the buildings and set another encampment inside. Paving bricks, bicycle racks, desks, planks and other objects were removed by demonstrators to establish barricades, which blocked all essential paths to the encampment. A number of supporters stayed outside the barricades and echoed the chanting from demonstrators settling in the encampment. The encampment lasted throughout the night without interference from the police.[22]
May 8–9: Second eviction and continued demonstrations
Overview of the Oudemanhuispoort barricades, May 8Bulldozer demolishing a barricade, Grimburgwal, May 8A demonstrator took the top of a traffic sign pole at Rokin and showed a Palestinian flag, May 8
The executive board of University of Amsterdam said in a statement on 8 May that a discussion between the executive board and protestors was held in the same morning, and another conversation was scheduled later in the afternoon.[29] Soon after, riot police broke into the encampment in the afternoon as barricades were demolished by bulldozers. Protestors inside the encampments were cornered and later on removed by the police. It was also reported by witnesses that some people got attacked by the police for now reason.[22]
With the eviction, a number of demonstrators moved to Rokin, in the vicinity of Oudemanhuispoort campus, and blocked Damrak, a main street in the city center of Amsterdam.[30] The demonstration at Rokin continued for hours, and was ended as the police charged towards the protesting crowds. Some crowds were dispersed as being chased by police vans, batons and police dogs. A number of them ended up at Rembrandtplein, where the demonstration slowly subsided.[31] 36 people were arrested by the end of the night, while at least five police officers and at least two protesters were injured,[4][5] though the specific number of injured protesters is unknown.[32]
On May 9, another protest was organised that again started at the Roeterseiland university campus of University of Amsterdam. Thousands of protestors went on to march through the city.[33] Three protestors were arrested by the police.[7] The university closed most of its buildings for the rest of the week.[34][35]
May 13–17: Third and fourth occupations and evictions
On May 13, after a national walk-out which was attended by approximately one thousand students and staff members,[36] students occupied campus buildings at the University of Amsterdam. Police in riot gear subsequently ended the protests in Amsterdam after "chasing away hundreds" of people,[37][38] and the university closed for two days after the renewed occupations on campus.[39] The Amsterdam protest continued at Oosterpark.[40] The UvA filed complaints against several protesters.[41] One protester was arrested; a criminal investigation was ongoing to determine if more arrests would follow.[8]
A pro-Palestine protest march was planned to pass UvA campus buildings on May 15. However, as an event by Booking.com was announced for this day, organisers decided to move the protest to the Booking.com headquarters.[42] Although there were no demonstrations the next day, the entrance at the Roeterseiland campus was defaced with red paint. This also happened during the earlier demonstrations.[43]
On May 17, a group of protesters gathered at a UvA building to set up a new tent encampment there,[44] which lasted about an hour and was ended after police in riot gear made their presence.[45] The group of student protesters joined a different protest elsewhere in the city, with who they marched to the Stopera, where they held a sit-in.[46] This demonstration was ended by police in riot gear as well, resulting in at least one arrest.[9]
^Although the municipal parties of GroenLinks, PvdA and D66 in Amsterdam have asked for clarification about the number of injured protesters and bystanders and despite various media reports and injuries, it is unknown how many more protesters may have been injured.[1] The number of injuries includes at least 1 protester and 1 police officer during the night between May 6 and 7,[2][3] and 2 protesters and 5 officers on May 8.[4][5]
^169 in the night between 6 to 7 May,[6] 36 on 8 May,[5] 3 on 9 May,[7] 1 on 13 May[8] and 1 on 17 May.[9]
^This estimate number only includes damage to university property during the first week of protests. The number does not include damage caused to municipal property and to neighboring companies and individuals.[10]
^ ab"Pro-Palestijnse demonstratie beëindigt op Roeterseilandcampus" [Pro-Palestinian demonstration ends on Roeterseiland campus]. 112 Nederland (in Dutch). May 7, 2024. Archived from the original on May 17, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2024. In ieder geval één vrouw is bij de ontruiming gewond geraakt aan haar hoofd. [At least one woman suffered head injuries during the evacuation.]
^ ab"Een demonstrant aangehouden" [One protester arrested]. Het Parool (in Dutch). May 17, 2024. Archived from the original on May 17, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
^"Groepen demonstranten samengevoegd" [Groups of demonstrators have merged]. Het Parool (in Dutch). May 17, 2024. Archived from the original on May 17, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
