Vandalism: three UU buildings damaged overnight

The damage to the buildings is substantial, says UU Vice-President Margot van der Starre in a statement published on the university's website. The Utrecht University Hall and Trans 10 are both national monuments. 

Van der Starre also says that the university has established that the vandalism is linked to pro-Palestine activists. According to a spokesperson, UU draws this conclusion from a text found in one of the buildings and a video posted on Instagram. UU has filed a criminal complaint, and the police are now investigating the matter.

"These actions do not only damage property but also undermine trust and safety within our community," affirms Van der Starre on the UU website, noting that the university has "repeatedly engaged in dialogue with demonstrators about the situation in Gaza and Israel" and held discussions in other parts of the organisation, such as the university and faculty councils. "At Utrecht University, we conduct debate through words and dialogue. Those who choose otherwise are taking a path we will not tolerate," concludes the UU vice-president. 

UU ruled out future collaborations with Israeli institutions in May 2025. Ten research projects involving Israel are still ongoing, including one EU Horizon project that the university would like to terminate, but that is easier said than done, as the consequences of a breach of contract must be determined. The university claims that none of these research projects have military applications or contribute to a deterioration of human rights.

*Update*
Drift 25 occupants: “We were not involved in the vandalism acts”
The activists occupying Drift 25 responded to the vandalism, saying they were not involved. Max, the spokesperson for the occupants, says: "These actions have been claimed by Palestine Action, a movement that originated in England and campaigns in this way. We have no contact with that movement."

When asked whether he condemns the destruction, Max, who did his bachelor's degree in Philosophy at Utrecht University, says: "We have been here for twelve days reading about the crimes being committed in the Palestinian territories. We condemn what is happening there. We disapprove of the university's complicity in this. What is happening there is not comparable to what has happened here with the university buildings. Entire universities have been destroyed in Gaza."

According to Max, protests always start peacefully with petitions, demonstrations and occupations. "The pro-Palestine movement also started this way in the Netherlands. At one point, there were 250,000 people on the streets. Yet, nothing seems to be changing. History teaches us that when peaceful actions are ignored for too long, activists switch to less peaceful actions."

Max adds that the responsibility for what happened to the three university buildings on Friday night "does not lie with the people who did it, but with the people and institutions who have ignored peaceful voices for so long and have not changed course."

The spokesperson for the occupiers also states that the university's initiative to rule out new collaborations with Israel and Israeli institutions is not enough. "UU has only adjusted its policy superficially. When it comes to genocide, we have a duty to do everything in our power not to be complicit. Making a few concessions is not enough. You cannot be just a little bit complicit. UU is huge, has a lot of money and power, and can easily afford to break off several collaborations. The people of Gaza cannot afford the genocide."

*The previous version of this article did not include the explanation by the UU spokesperson and the occupants' reaction.