Students, lecturers to protest again against higher-education cuts on December 9

Students and teachers from universities and colleges plan to demonstrate again on December 9. Their protest is not aimed at the caretaker Cabinet’s cuts, but at urging the next government to adopt better policies. The demonstration is set for Dam Square in Amsterdam, with organizers also planning a “nationwide higher education strike” at universities and colleges.

In June, students and staff in higher education protested at Dam Square against the cuts imposed by the former Cabinet. With a new coalition being formed after the parliamentary elections, the sector aims to influence the upcoming coalition agreement.

“Soon, the future of our work and students will be on the formation table. This is the moment to turn our determination into results,” said FNV, one of the unions behind the protest. The union added, “The destruction must stop; the recovery starts now.”

Maastricht University said students and employees are allowed to take part in the protest. Attendance in classes that day is not mandatory, though students are responsible for catching up on any missed coursework. Exams will continue as planned.

The caretaker Cabinet had planned cuts of over 1 billion euros to education and research, primarily affecting universities and colleges. Tens of thousands of students, teachers, and administrators protested the decision. Parties including D66, CDA, and JA21, now potential coalition partners, had opposed the cuts.