New Demonstration Against Higher Education Budget Cuts Announced by Dutch Union AOb
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The European Trade Union Committee for Education (ETUCE) expresses full support for our Dutch colleagues, the General Education Association (AOb), as they prepare for a major protest on November 25 in The Hague against severe budget cuts in Higher Education and Research. The planned cuts, exceeding one billion euros, threaten the jobs of academics, the quality of education, and the accessibility of higher education for all.
Initially, a massive demonstration involving tens of thousands of people was scheduled for November 14 in Utrecht, with participants including education staff, students, and unions. However, the Mayor of Utrecht cancelled the event at the last moment due to serious security threats by extremist groups. Despite the abrupt cancellation, AOb swiftly organized an alternative event in the Dutch Parliament, which included representatives from several opposition political parties and was broadcast via livestream.
The urgency of a larger demonstration has not diminished, and the postponed protest is now set for November 25 in The Hague, where the AOb and supporters will gather at the Malieveld to protest the cuts. Many education institutions, universities, and even major companies are backing this action, recognizing that education and research are the backbones of an innovative and competitive economy. Forty major companies have already addressed an open letter to the government, urging them to reconsider the drastic measures.
The proposed budget cuts will not only reverse recent improvements in higher education funding but also limit international student intake and increase tuition fees for those who need more time to complete their studies, even if delays are due to illness or personal circumstances. Such measures threaten the core of accessible and equitable education, increasing inequality and further exacerbating the teacher shortage.
ETUCE stands in solidarity with AOb, educators, students, and all those fighting for the right to quality, accessible higher education. We call on the Dutch government to reconsider these harmful budget cuts and support a sustainable future for education and research. The new protest on November 25 will be a critical moment for education in the Netherlands, and ETUCE encourages broad support for this important cause.
Together, we can ensure that education remains a right for all, not a privilege for the few.