Minister expects no consequences for universities due to Florida boycott

Dutch universities that have been placed on Florida’s boycott list need not worry about any consequences. There are no financial ties with the fund, and Education Minister Gouke Moes does not expect the boycott to spread to other states.

In October it became clear that Erasmus University and several other Dutch educational institutions had been added to a boycott list by the state of Florida. These institutions were placed on the list for allegedly boycotting Israel in some way. In June, Erasmus University froze its institutional ties with a number of Israeli universities due to concerns over potential involvement in human rights violations.

Impact on software

An Amsterdam dean warned in IT magazine Computable that an expansion of the boycott could lead to US companies such as Microsoft halting the delivery of software. This would have disastrous consequences for the IT infrastructure of universities.

In response to questions from VVD MP Queeny Rajkowski, Education, Culture and Science Minister Gouke Moes stated that he ‘has no indication that US companies are ending cooperation with the Netherlands as a result of legislation against the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement’.

Already no investments

According to Moes, the Florida boycott only concerns the state’s public pension fund. “Since 2016, Florida has had anti-boycott legislation that requires the state’s public pension fund – the Florida State Board of Administration (SBA) – to publish a quarterly updated list of ‘scrutinised companies that boycott Israel’ and to notify the companies concerned in writing.” Since the summer of 2025, this has been expanded to include knowledge institutions. Due to the boycott, the pension fund is not allowed to invest in the Dutch institutions – but it was not doing so anyway.

Moes also does not expect US institutions to sever ties with Dutch universities. “I have received no indications that US institutions are suspending their cooperation with Dutch universities. I therefore expect no impact on the Dutch knowledge infrastructure.”

An expansion of the boycott to other US states also seems unlikely. “In most states, the legislation targets companies that provide government services or public funds that invest in companies. As far as is known, Florida is the only US state that explicitly includes educational institutions and academic boycotts in its legislation”, the minister writes.