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 both are a national monument. 

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 based on a text found on 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*
Occupants of Drift 25: “We are not involved in vandalism”
In response to the vandalism, the occupants of Drift 25 claim that they were not involved in these actions, during which forty windows were smashed at the Academy Building, Trans 10 and the Administration Building. Spokesperson Max for the occupants: "The action has 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, this occupier of Drift 25, 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. In Gaza, entire universities have disappeared."

Protest movements, according to spokesperson Max, always start peacefully. With petitions, demonstrations and occupations. "The pro-Palestinian movement also started that way in the Netherlands. At one point, there were even 250,000 people on the streets. But nothing seems to be changing. History teaches us that when peaceful actions are ignored for too long, activists switch to less peaceful actions."

The responsibility for what happened to the three university buildings on Friday night, says Max,"lies not with those who did it last night, but with the people and institutions who have ignored the peaceful voice for so long and have not changed course."

The fact that the university has indeed stopped collaborations with Israel and Israeli institutions and is not entering into new collaborations is not enough, says the spokesperson for the occupiers: "The UU has only superficially adjusted its policy. When it comes to genocide, you have a duty to do everything in your power not to be complicit. Making a few concessions is not enough. You cannot be a little bit complicit. The UU is very large and has a lot of money and power and can easily afford to break off a number of collaborations. The people of Gaza cannot afford the genocide."

*This explanation from the UU spokesperson and the reaction of the occupants were not included in an earlier version of this article.