Activists have left Drift 25

On Wednesday, June 18, pro-Palestinian activists blocked part of Drift and occupied Drift 25. They remained in the building after lifting the blockade. Utrecht University allowed them to stay there for two nights, until early this morning.

At 7:30 am, University President Anton Pijpers began clearing the building. Some time after his third request to leave the premises, the police entered the building through an alternative entrance, not the front door. Once inside, they found that the building had been vacated, with several barricades and rubbish left behind.

According to a spokesperson for Utrecht University, the activists left a few notes for the people who will clean up the building. One of them explains how best to dismantle the wooden staircase barricaded with chairs.

It is not known when the activists left the building. The police had agreed with UU to keep an eye on the building during the evening and night, but they do not want to say how they did this or whether they saw anyone leaving the building.

The building is now being inspected for damage, after which it will be cleaned. According to the Pijpers, the building has been severely damaged: ‘This makes me sad and angry. This is vandalism. The damage is currently being assessed, but it will be extensive: there are barricades, doors that have been screwed shut, paint, stickers and destroyed electric locks in the classrooms.’

UU expects the building to be available for teaching next Tuesday, June 24. The other university buildings on Drift, including the University Library, are open as usual for study and teaching.

On June 3, the activists occupied the educational building at Janskerkhof 15. They were allowed to stay there overnight and left the building voluntarily the next morning. It was the first time that activists had not been asked to leave for the night.