{"id":167820,"date":"2024-05-15T12:54:32","date_gmt":"2024-05-15T10:54:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=167820"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:27:20","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:27:20","slug":"few-hard-limits-in-new-protest-directive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2024\/05\/15\/few-hard-limits-in-new-protest-directive\/","title":{"rendered":"Few hard limits in new protest directive"},"content":{"rendered":"

The fierce pro-Palestinian protests taking place have prompted the higher education institutions in the Netherlands to issue a joint directive today. It states that protests are allowed, as long as protestors abide by an institution\u2019s house rules.<\/p>\n

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Police intervened at a climate protest on campus in 2022.<\/span><\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWouter Sterrenburg<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Should administrators negotiate with masked protesters or not? Are protestors permitted to occupy a building overnight? The new joint directive<\/a> issued by Dutch higher education institutions gives executive boards considerable leeway on such matters.<\/p>\n

In their directive, the administrators strike a calm tone. It opens with the sentences \u201cKnowledge and critical voices are the beating heart of higher education institutions. This includes debates about important issues and also the opportunity to protest.\u201d A little further on, it continues: \u201cProtesting at universities and universities of applied sciences is therefore permitted.\u201d<\/p>\n

As long as the protesters comply with the institution\u2019s code of conduct, that is. The universities and universities of applied sciences consider it important \u2018that everyone (including students, staff and visitors) can feel safe on campus\u2019.<\/p>\n

No red line<\/h2>

However, putting this into practice is not as simple as it might sound. While occupying a building is not allowed and teaching must be allowed to continue, the institutions do not draw a red line. They stop short of saying that if you occupy a building, riot police will be sent in to force you out.<\/p>\n

All the directive says is that executive boards \u2018may make a police report\u2019. Staying overnight in the institution\u2019s buildings and premises is not allowed \u2018without permission\u2019, which leaves open the possibility of permission being granted. On Monday, for example, Maastricht University did exactly that<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Only once an incident has been reported to the authorities can the mayor, police and public prosecutor decide to send in riot police. This explains why riot police were brought in at the University of Amsterdam last Monday night and later that same week, but were nowhere to be seen on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

Aim<\/h2>

The most strongly worded provision states, \u201cProtest in locations and spaces that clearly pose a possible danger to persons, animals and the environment (e.g. as in the case of laboratories) will not be tolerated.\u201d<\/p>\n

A stipulation at the end of the document reads, \u201cUniversities and universities of applied sciences always report offences such as threatening behaviour, use of force, vandalism or acts of violence in public places.\u201d But offences can be reported after the fact and so may not result in clearance of the site by force.<\/p>\n

Scarves<\/h2>

The directive also mentions the use of scarves and masks by some protesters to hide their faces. \u201cBy law, it is not permitted to wear items of clothing that cover the face (e.g. full-face helmet, balaclava, mask, face veil)\u201d, the educational institutions point out. This statement refers to an existing law that covers conduct in education, healthcare, on public transport and in government buildings.<\/p>\n

But what happens if protesters wear them anyway? In that case, they will be \u2018asked\u2019 to leave the location or remove their face covering. It also says that university administrators will not negotiate with anyone who is not willing to show their face.<\/p>\n

Organisers<\/h2>

In their directive, the administrators shift some of the responsibility to the protest organisers. They will no longer settle for the organisers\u2019 assurances that the protests are peaceful and that only a small minority commit acts of vandalism. Instead, the organisers \u2018are asked\u2019 to ensure that no criminal offences are committed.<\/p>\n

These include \u201cviolence, threats, discrimination, vandalism and disturbing the peace\u201d, the institutions explain. \u201cMore generally, they also cover intimidating behaviour, anonymous expressions or other disorderly conduct.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

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