The police arrived in large numbers at the Erasmus building yesterday evening to end the occupation of the second floor. Ultimately, five protesters refused to leave the building on their own and were, with some pushing and pulling, removed from the building by the arrest team.

This live blog has been (temporarily) closed. For major news events, we will reopen the live blog or inform you through new reports on the developments. 

Wednesday, 14:00. Rebuilding the camp

It almost looks like the day after Lowlands: partially taken down tents and trash lying around dominated the view of the pro-Palestine camp this morning. Since then, activists, despite the rain, have started to clean up and rebuild. A new large party tent is placed in the middle of the field and is currently being set up.

Wednesday, 11:00. “The inevitable choice of a board president with a heart for the University”

Columnist Adriaan Duiveman watched with admiration how board president Daniël Wigboldus approached the talks with the protesters. ‘I wouldn’t want to be in the position of the board members right now – independent of the salary scale that comes with it.’

The whole column can be read here (in Dutch).

Wednesday, 8:30. Lecturers partake in flyer campaign at the Berchmanianum

At the entrance of the Berchmanianum, a group of employees is handing out flyers to everyone entering the administrative building. Among them assistant professors Gaard Kets and Matthijs van de Sande, two of the initiators of the open letter to the executive board that has since been signed by more than 350 employees.

“As employees of Radboud University, we declare our solidarity with the students who have been demonstrating for months against the genocide in Gaza and the complicity of Dutch universities in the oppression of Palestinians and the maintenance of the Israeli apartheid state,” it reads on the flyer.

Also the occupation of the Erasmus building on Monday evening is discussed on the flyer. “Even though they (the protesting students, ed.) were peaceful, the executive board let the building be cleared by the riot police. Additionally, students have been abused by security personnel of RU. We condone the use of violence against our students and demand that the right to protest at the university is guaranteed at all times.”

Tuesday, 17:50. Lecturer: ‘Protesters are the most committed students you can find on this campus’

Assistant professor Marieke van Houte was, together with three other lecturers, present at the clearing of the Erasmus building. The idea was to be present as an observer during the police activity. That wasn’t allowed.

‘Yesterday afternoon, I ran out of a meeting because I heard that two students were pushed to the ground by security, held in a neck clamp, got a knee pushed against the stomach, and taken away,’ says Van Houte. ‘I didn’t want this to happen again at night without lecturers around.’

In the final conversation with the executive board right before the clearing, where two police agents were present, the teacher stood up for the protesting students. ‘I told the board members that the students have a big heart and that they are deeply affected by the events happening in the world and desperate because of the executive board’s silence. Over the past seven months, they have tried to draw attention to the conflict in all kinds of ways. They occupied the building because they did not receive an adequate response.’

Van Houte calls the protesters ‘the most committed students you can find on this campus.’ She regrets the actions of the executive board. ‘They sadden me immensely.’ According to Van Houte, the executive board should have engaged in a substantive discussion regarding cutting the ties.

Where to go from here, Van Houte doesn’t know. ‘The only thing I would like to stress is that a large group of employees is supporting the students, both in their demands and in their right to protest. They want to be there for them. In a practical sense, in a moral sense, and for their safety.’

Tuesday, 13:30. Protesters presently not the priority of the executive board

Yesterday’s events appear to have driven a wedge between the executive board and the pro-Palestinian activists on campus. ‘Because the protesting students have crossed a line into what is permissible with yesterday’s occupation, the executive board’s current priority is the general community and participational bodies at university,’ writes a spokesperson. He thereby reacted to a question on whether the door to the administrative building would remain open to the protesters.

The board now wants to first talk to the deans, the joint assembly, and other employees and students. The spokesperson also adds that ‘there is plenty of room for open conversations at our University, also when it comes to sensitive topics.’ ‘We offer that space and we have offered it also in the last weeks. And the executive board will do everything in their power to guarantee that.’

Also spokesperson of the protesters Ties told Vox today to not be eager to engage in talks with the executive board. According to the student, the board members have not proved to be reliable discussion partners, amongst other things bynot guaranteeing the safety of students.

Tuesday, 13:00. Author of open letter: ‘Extremely disappointing’

Assistant professor Gaard Kets, one of the initiators of the open letter that has been signed by more than 350 Radboud employees in support of the protesters, is extremely disappointed that the executive board let the police intervene at the Erasmus building yesterday evening. ‘The demands of the students have a lot of substance and they have a right to protest peacefully. An occupation as a way to protest is one way of doing that.’

According to Kets, the student protest has remained entirely peaceful. ‘The students did not use violence; they have always made clear that that’s not what they want to do.’ When it comes to the barricades and graffiti in the Erasmus building, Kets most of all has questions for the executive board. ‘Is this reason enough to call the riot police on students?’

The assistant professor still hopes that the executive board will swiftly meet the protester’s demand to cut all ties with Israeli institutions. ‘We showed with our letter that there is a large number of us supporting the students. I’m noticing that there is a need among staff members to strengthen that signal. How? We don’t know that yet.’

Tuesday, 12:30. Clearing of the Erasmus building in pictures

The occupation of the Erasmus building was broken up yesterday with the help of the riot police and a special arrest team. The clearing of the building is the preliminary climax of two weeks of protests on campus. Pictures of the clearing can be found here.

Tuesday, 12:15. ‘Our protest was still peaceful’

It is quiet in the camp next to the Maria Montessori building. The central main tent has been taken down, the first aid tent stands abandoned and a dozen yellow spots on the grass indicate where tents had stood earlier.

At one of the picnic tables, two students are sitting behind their laptops, coffees and croissants close by. ‘We’re mainly sitting here to keep an eye on the camp. And to receive people who are passing by.’ They were also at the occupation of the Erasmus building that ended with police yesterday evening. ‘The barricade yesterday was a huge cry for attention,’ says one of them. ‘It’s a consequence of the fact that the executive board does not respond to our demands.’

Whether more tents will be taken down and the protest weeks will come to an end, the students can’t and don’t want to say. ‘But as far as we’re concerned, we’re not stopping now.’

Student Ties, who has been a spokesperson for the protesters for the past two weeks, says on the phone that the protesters will discuss this today. He also expects that protests against affiliations with Israeli institutions won’t stop, but could not yet say how they would look like.

He rejects the notion that protesters pushed for an end to the protests by occupying the Erasmus building. According to him, the protests were still peaceful. He has nothing good to say about the actions of the executive board yesterday. ‘It is a shame that our protest was broken up like this by the executive board. The only unsafety people experienced yesterday was the result of the actions of security personnel and because the riot police stormed the building.’ According to Ties, some protesters who had chained themselves yesterday were met with ‘considerable violence’ by the police yesterday.

If further discussion with the executive board will take place, then only ‘under certain conditions’, he says. ‘We want a guarantee for the safety of students.’

Tuesday, 12:00. Protesters released

The second protester who was taken from the bicycle parking by the police yesterday has been released. That announced the police. They are suspected of having sprayed graffiti, potentially on security cameras. Following the release, a scheduled ‘support demo’ in front of the police station was canceled. An involved lecturer told Vox that both protesters who were taken yesterday are students at Radboud University.

According to a spokesperson of the protesters, Radboud security had used force against the two protesters during the arrest yesterday. Images were taken of that. At the moment, these were not shared to guarantee the security of the protesters. The University indicated yesterday already that the arrests would be evaluated.

Tuesday, 9:30. Cleaning team busy at the Erasmus building

A cleaning team has been busy sorting the education wing on the second floor of the Erasmus building since 6 this morning. There, a small group of protesters had barricaded themselves earlier. On the walls of a corridor and a stairwell, several pro-Palestinian slogans were sprayed. There, educational activities will not be taking place this morning. The University states on its website that teachers can move to alternative teaching locations.

Tuesday, 9:10. No arrests

The protesters who were taken from the Erasmus building by police yesterday evening were brought to station Dukenburg by bus last night, writes the ANP (Algemeen Nederlands Persbureau BV, ed.). There, they were released. The press agency writes further that no protesters were arrested yesterday evening and no one had to identify themselves.

Tuesday, 00:40. The Erasmus building is empty

The last protesters have been brought out of the Erasmus building. The second floor is empty.

The bus with the detained protesters leaves amid chants of ‘You are not alone’ and cheers from supporters. On the bus, activists wave a Palestinian flag.

Tuesday, 00:25. Arrest buses

The protesters who did not want to leave the building voluntarily are now taken out of the building by police, some carried by arms and legs.

Once outside, the protesters are cheered on by supporters. They are then put into a detention van.

23:50. Protesters are exiting the building

With hands raised in the air, the first protesters are walking outside. Officers with sticks and shields are proceeding towards the second floor.

The number of protesters who have gathered outside in support of the activists has grown to approximately 70 people.

23:20. Final conversation between executive board and protesters

In front of the Erasmus building, the final conversation between the executive board and the protesters is playing out. Chairman Daniël Wigboldus and vice-chair Agnes Muskens, accompanied by two police agents, are asking the activists a final time to peacefully leave the building. If not, the police will clear the building.

On behalf of the activists, spokesperson Ties states to deeply regret the action of the executive board. He is asking whether activists are allowed to be present as observers during the clearing of the building. That, the executive board says, cannot be guaranteed.

There are now three police buses at the main entrance of the Erasmus building; officers have entered the building. Outside, approximately 30 people have gathered for a support demonstration with flags.

22:20. Activists do not want to leave; chairman of the board ‘saddened’

Spokesperson Ties says that there has been another talk with the executive board. According to the activist, Daniël Wigboldus asked whether the protesters would be leaving or not. That the activists were not planning on leaving has reportedly saddened the chairman greatly. 

Activists have meanwhile built a barricade with tables, chairs and sofas for the occupied seminar rooms. The barricade has been sprayed with ketchup, but another group is already cleaning it up with toilet paper.

21:40. Executive board wants protesters to leave the building

The executive board wants the protesters to leave the building now. That was announced in a message on the Radboud University website.

The executive board wanted a conversation with the police present, but the activists declined. The executive board has not given an ultimatum. Spokesperson Ties: ‘Protesters can choose whether they want to stay or leave.’ On the question of what will happen if the police will come, he says: ‘We are peaceful. If they come here armed, what are they?’

21:30. Activists are gathering

All activists are asked to gather. According to a protester who has taken up a megaphone, police were spotted around the building. For safety reasons, protesters are covering their faces and are calling to stay close to one another. Whether action will follow, is not clear.

21:00. Pizzas and groceries

The protesters have just had a meeting about the remainder of the evening. It is still unclear whether they will be permitted to stay overnight at the Erasmus building. Sleeping bags have meanwhile been brought up the stairs. A small delegation is going out for groceries. The pizzas that were delivered a while ago are finished.

20:05. Spokesperson: ‘Two protesters released’

A spokesperson of the activists is announcing via speakerphone that the two protesters who got arrested this afternoon, because they were, according to security, blinding a camera with graffiti, have been released. The news is greeted with applause.

19:15. Security in conversation with protesters

Four security guards are checking in with two spokespeople of the protesters, Ties and Koen. According to Ties, he has tried to discuss the security of the building, but both security guards and protesters are waiting for a response from the executive board. Ties: ‘We haven’t heard anything from the board members all day.’

18:50. The Erasmus building is closing

‘Ladies and gentlemen, the Erasmus building is closing.’ The message is called out by a porter at the Erasmus building. The protesters pretend to not have heard the message and continue to chant slogans.

18:30. Calm before the storm

In half an hour, the doors of the Erasmus building will close. Protesters are meanwhile singing a few songs, including Everything’s Gonna Be Alright by Bob Marley & the Wailers and Killing in the Name by Rage Against The Machine.

18:10. Support demonstration next to the Refter

A small demonstration, consisting of around 30 protesters, in support of the protesters occupying the second floor of the Erasmus is taking place on the side of the Refter. Once again, well-known slogans, including ‘Free, free Palestine’, are chanted. Encouraged by their friends, some student occupiers are taking to the balcony, waving Palestinian flags.

17:30. Radboud University: ‘Evaluate what happened with security guards’

A Radboud spokesperson circles back to the question of possible force used by Radboud security during the arrest of two protesters. ‘We do not know what happened exactly at the Erasmus building today,’ according to the spokesperson. ‘It is clear that action was taken and that we have video footage. Radboud University will now evaluate carefully what happened.’

17:15. Contdown to 19:00

On the second floor of the Erasmus building, there is a feeling of the calm before the storm. The occupiers have retreated back to their corridor, where they smuggled in bottles of water and food a while ago. In the adjacent room, around 50 students and employees partake in a support demonstration.

The question of the hour is what will happen at 19:00, the closing time of the Erasmus tower. The executive board has not yet given an answer.

15:35. Spokesperson of protesters invited for meeting with executive board

Due to the occupation, eighteen scheduled educational activities could not take place, a spokesperson of the University told Vox when asked. According to the spokesperson, protesters want to enter talks with the executive board again. ‘We have been in touch with a spokesperson of the protesters and have made clear that an occupation and disruption of education is not something we want. We have also indicated that he can expect an invitation for a meeting with the executive board at a later point.’

The spokesperson was not able to comment on whether Radboud security personnel had potentially used force against two protesters: ‘We will investigate that.’

15:20. Spokesperson protesters: ‘Security used force against protesters’

According to protester spokesperson Ties, security guards of Radboud University have violently pushed two protesters to the ground and held them in a neck lock. This concerns protesters that, according to security guards, were spraying cameras with graffiti, so other protesters would be able to enter undetected.

‘Those are unreasonable, violent actions that security personnel should not and are not allowed to deploy at university,’ he says. ‘We hope that the executive board is going to take action against this. As far as we know, our people have not sprayed with aerosols at all.’

Additionally, Ties says, demonstrators have also not rang the fire alarm in the Erasmus building. ‘It only took ten minutes after the fire alarm went off until people were asked to leave. People sitting at the Refter were allowed to stay, and the firefighters left after three minutes. We think this was a ploy to get us out.’

The Erasmus building is closing at 19:00 today, but students want to remain until their demands are met, or until force is used against them.

15:00. Some tents are taken down

On the field in front of the Maria Montessori building, where the pro-Palestine camp is situated, two large party tents were taken down.  Seven smaller tents, where protesters have slept over the past two weeks, were cleared as well.

14:30. Fire alarm also at Maria Montessori

The fire alarm also went off at the Maria Montessori building around 14:30, told an employee of the social science faculty Vox. Fifteen minutes later, around 150 students and employees were waiting in front of the building, before they were allowed back inside.

14:15. Lower part of Erasmus building cleared

Three firefighters have entered the building. Meanwhile, a group of approximately 60 students and employees has gathered in front of the building. No one is let into the building anymore.

On the upper floors, work continues uninterrupted.

13:45. ‘We’re not leaving’

Protesters in the Erasmus building are advising protesters who do not want to be arrested to join the support demo in front of the building. ‘We’re in for the long run, we’re not leaving,’ calls one protester.

12:30. Protesters are occupying second floor of Erasmus building

Approximately 20 protesters have occupied the second floor of the Erasmus building. They have blocked the entrance of a seminar room and covered the windows with aluminium foil. Additionally, the police arrested two protesters.