Amsterdam University shuts for two days after more protests

The University of Amsterdam will be closed on Tuesday and Wednesday in an effort to head off further trouble after riot police were again called in to clear protesters on Monday. 

The university authorities said in a statement on Monday evening that they could not “take responsibility for the safety of everyone on campus”.

On Monday, a walkout by students and staff in support of Palestine at the Roeterseiland complex resulted in an occupation of the building. The students were joined by several masked people, dressed in black, who were captured on camera smashing furniture and equipment, and building barricades. 

The UvA authorities said they were “shocked” at the way the “peaceful protest was taken over by violent elements who misused their own right to demonstration and denied others, including the media, their rights”. 

Journalists who were at the occupation were ordered to leave by the protestors before the police moved in.

According to the Telegraaf, up to 30 masked men in black were responsible for the damage.

There were walk-outs and tent protests at a number of other universities around the country on Monday and students were allowed by the university authorities to continue their demonstration overnight in Groningen, Maastricht and Eindhoven.

The UvA put the damage caused by protestors during four days of disruption last week at €1.5 million. 

No one was arrested during the Amsterdam protests on Monday but police said they did not rule out making arrests later in connection with the vandalism, the AD reported.