University of Amsterdam cancels student interview with Belgian politician Van Grieken

An interview on Thursday between students and Tom Van Grieken, the chairman of the Belgian party Vlaams Belang, at the University of Amsterdam (UvA) has been cancelled, the university media outlet Folia reports. The reason is said to be that the politician’s safety cannot be guaranteed.

The event had been set up by the debate platform Room for Discussion. It remains unclear whether concerns over Van Grieken’s safety were truly behind the cancellation. Room for Discussion could not be reached for clarification, while the University of Amsterdam declined to comment, noting that the decision to cancel was made by the organisers. “We are not involved in this,” a spokesperson said.

The debate platform has previously faced similar disruptions and cancellations. In 2024, events featuring then Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren and NATO Vice Admiral Rob Bauer were cancelled due to security concerns.

An interview with Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema was also relocated from the University of Amsterdam to City Hall, where it was briefly interrupted by pro-Palestinian demonstrators.

“By cancelling a debate with a Flemish nationalist politician, who represents 1 million voters, the university is effectively admitting that it is bowing to external pressure, which of course comes from the left,” Van Grieken said in a press statement. He called it “shameful that a democratically elected politician is not welcome at a university that calls itself a free space for debate.”