Despite Safety Measures, Students Rebelled With a Protest With Police Intervention

The opening of the academic year in Groningen was disrupted by pro-Palestinian demonstrations, resulting in the arrest of at least two individuals. The protests took place at the Martinikerk, where rectors of the University of Groningen (RUG) traditionally walk in robes from the Academy Building to the church to mark the start of the new academic year.

As the procession of professors approached the entrance of the Martinikerk, a group of around fifteen to twenty demonstrators lay down in front of the doors, forcing professors and other attendees to step over them to enter the building. The activists, who had gathered on the Grote Markt before the procession arrived, were protesting the university's ties with Israel, demanding that RUG sever connections with the country and any institutions that support the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

In addition to the sit-in, other protesters stood to the side, making noise with various objects to draw attention to their cause. The situation escalated when some activists, who had initially lain down, got up and began banging on the doors and windows of the church once the doors were closed. The police intervened at this point, arresting at least two demonstrators—one for failing to produce identification and another for disturbing public order.

Despite the disruptions, the RUG did not intervene directly in the protests, with a university spokesperson stating that everyone has the right to demonstrate. The arrests took place on the Grote Markt, further adding to the tension of the day.

Similar protests occurred in other Dutch cities, including Wageningen, Eindhoven, and Tilburg, where students and staff also voiced their opposition to their universities' ties with Israel. These protests are part of a broader wave of pro-Palestinian actions planned across the Netherlands, with more demonstrations expected in the coming days.