Thousands protest against higher education budget cuts in The Hague
The demonstration against planned cuts to higher education funding concluded in The Hague on November 25, 2024, with organizers estimating around 20,000 participants. Students, staff, and educators from universities and colleges across the Netherlands gathered at Malieveld to voice their opposition to the government's proposed reduction of over one billion euros in funding for higher education and research.
Despite rainy weather, the protest attracted thousands, with participants waving flags and holding signs that read slogans such as "Even the Zeelanders are angry," "Privileged = Responsible," and "Cuts to education are theft of the future." Many protesters also wore red squares on their clothing, symbolizing their protest, and called out chants like "Fight, fight, fight, studying is a right." A large sign suspended from a crane read "HO Cabinet destroys higher education," referring to the Dutch government's proposed cuts.
The demonstration was a coordinated effort involving several organizations, including student unions and educational associations. Among the demonstrators were prominent political figures, including Sandra Beckerman (SP), Rob Jetten (D66), and Frans Timmermans (GroenLinks-PvdA), who lent their support to the protest. Jetten emphasized the importance of investing in education, stating, "If you say that education is expensive, you don’t know what ignorance costs." Timmermans added, "We need to build bridges in society, and education is the best bridge builder." Beckerman urged the protesters to pressure the Dutch government to reverse the cuts.
The government's proposed budget cuts, which amount to approximately 2 billion euros, have caused significant concern within the academic community. In a letter to the government, several mayors, universities, and colleges voiced their opposition, calling the cuts "irresponsible" and "damaging to the future of the Netherlands." Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema supported the initiative through a spokesperson, underscoring the detrimental effects these cuts would have on education and research.
Abdelkader Karbache, president of the National Union of Students (LSVb), spoke out against the cuts, stating that students were being "used as an ATM." He also condemned the reduction of the basic student grant and the financial pressures it placed on students, especially those already struggling to make ends meet. "We are here not only to fight the cuts but also to fight for our future," Karbache said. "You are not only the future of the Netherlands but also its conscience."
Educational leaders also voiced their concerns. Maurice Limmen, chairman of the Association of Universities of Applied Sciences, warned of "devastating cuts" to crucial programs like civil engineering. Caspar van den Berg, chair of Universities of the Netherlands, emphasized that the government’s proposed cuts would lead to the closure of multiple universities, stating, "More than a billion euros the government wants to cut. That is the largest reduction ever in education and research. It will cost us everything we stand for."
The cuts, which will also impact technical training and research funding, have led to fears of a "brain drain" in the Netherlands, as educational institutions struggle to maintain their programs and attract students. The Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) warned that the cuts would endanger the nation's future economic and scientific prospects, with President Marileen Dogterom arguing, "What you do by cutting investment in education and research is actually cutting investment in the well-being and prosperity of the future in the Netherlands."
In addition to the protest in The Hague, smaller actions took place across several student cities, including Utrecht, Leiden, Tilburg, Enschede, and Nijmegen. These protests followed an earlier attempt to hold the demonstration in Utrecht, which was canceled out of concerns over a potential pro-Palestinian group's involvement. Despite the cancellation, protesters in various cities took to the streets in solidarity, voicing their opposition to the cuts.
Protesters also denounced the government's position on international education. Ivo Smits, a Japanology student, carried a sign in Japanese reading, "No to the cuts." Smits argued that the government’s cuts would make the Netherlands "short-sighted" in its global perspective, noting, "The consequences will be felt across the board. In the short term, it’s a disaster for healthcare. We will train fewer doctors, and where will we get them from if we can’t rely on foreign professionals anymore?"
The government's cuts have already resulted in the cancellation of planned funding for research fellowships and have led to the elimination of several programs aimed at supporting young scientists. In a letter sent earlier this year, over 300 young scientists called on the government to reverse the measures, warning that they would lead to a collapse in research capacity.
