Netherlands

2024-06-12 University of Groningen

On June 12, 2024, police forcibly evacuated pro-Palestinian protesters who were occupying a building at the University of Groningen (RUG). The building occupation came a few weeks after Dutch higher education institutions agreed to a new directive stating that student

2024-05-07 University of Amsterdam

On May 7, 2024, police used teargas, a bulldozer, and batons to disperse students who had established a pro-Palestinian encampment at the University of Amsterdam (UvA). On May 6, a group of students set up an encampment at UvA’s Roeterseiland

2024-04-25 University of Groningen

On April 25, 2024, police forcibly evacuated students occupying the Academy Building at the University of Groningen (RUG). Earlier in the day, a group of students had met with RUG’s Executive Board to continue a series of discussions about social

2024-04-13 University of Groningen

On April 13, 2024, unknown individuals painted graffiti on the facade of the University of Groningen’s Academy building, the walls of the Röling Building (Faculty of Law) and the university’s library The slogans included pro-Palestinian messages, such as ‘UG supports

2024-06-09 University of Groningen

On June 9, 2024, unknown individuals painted the facades of several University of Groningen buildings with graffiti and broke several windows. The affected buildings included the Faculty of Behavioral and Social Sciences and an administration building. Both were painted with

2024-03-19 University of Groningen

On March 19, 2024, the University of Groningen (RUG) prevented a student group from showing the movie Farha, about a Palestinian girl forced to leave her home in 1948. The student group Groningen for Palestine planned to show the move

2023-12-13 University of Groningen

On December 13, 2023, unknown individuals smashed more than a dozen building’s windows, painting some of the glass with graffiti, at the University of Groningen. The graffiti included slogans condemning Israeli military action in Gaza, such as “20,000+ dead,” “We

2023-03-08 University of Groningen

On March 8, 2023, the University of Groningen (RUG) dismissed Susanne Täuber, a professor of economics, following a years-long dispute. The dismissal was issued after a district court ruled that the university’s decision was legal. The dispute centered on Täuber’s

2021-03-21 Leiden University, Unaffiliated

In March 2021, two Dutch scholars reported being intimidated, apparently as part of a campaign organized by a right-wing online activist group known as Vizier op Links. According to the group’s mission, Vizier op Links is committed to breaking up

Violent Repression and Government Overreach Fuel Global Decline in Academic Freedom, Free to Think 2026 Report Finds

NEW YORK, Sept. 15, 2026—Violent state repression and government interference in university autonomy lead the global decline in academic freedom, according to Scholars at Risk’s (SAR) new Free to Think 2026 report. Documenting 382 attacks on higher education communities in

Introducing Scholars at Risk

Scholars at Risk is an international network of institutions and individuals whose mission it is to protect scholars and promote academic freedom. Learn more about SAR’s mission and the courageous scholars we are honored to assist in the below video

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