THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) – Police arrested some 125 activists as they broke up a pro-Palestinian demonstration camp at the University of Amsterdam in the early hours of Tuesday, as protests that have roiled campuses in the United States spread into Europe.
Police in the Dutch capital said in a statement on the social media platform X that their action was “necessary to restore order” after protests turned violent. There were no immediate reports of injuries.
Video from the scene aired by national broadcaster NOS showed police using a mechanical digger to push down barricades and officers wielding batons and shields moving in to end the demonstration, beating some of the protesters and pulling down tents.
Participants a pro-Palestinian protest are evacuated by bus under police surveillance at the campus of the University of Amsterdam (UvA) on Roeterseiland, on May 7, 2024. (Photo by Eva Plevier / ANP / AFP) / Netherlands OUT (Photo by EVA PLEVIER/ANP/AFP via Getty Images)
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – MAY 06: Amsterdam University students set up a solidarity encampment for Palestinians on the school campus in Amsterdam, Netherlands on May 06, 2024. (Photo by Mouneb Taim/Anadolu via Getty Images)
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – MAY 06: Students set up a camp and barricades on the campus of the University of Amsterdam to support Gaza on May 6, 2024, in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The Amsterdam-based student collective says it is promoting justice in Palestine, raising awareness about Israeli settler colonialism, and fighting for an academic boycott. (Photo by Pierre Crom/Getty Images)
Protesters formed barricades from wooden pallets and bicycles, national broadcaster NOS reported.
Scores of demonstrators occupied a small island at the university on Monday, urging Amsterdam universities to break academic ties with Israel because of its devastating attacks on Gaza in the aftermath of the deadly Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas militants in southern Israel.
There have also been demonstrations in recent days at campuses in France and the United Kingdom.
Photos from the Amsterdam campus Tuesday morning showed tents, banners and food along with piles of cobbles that had been pulled up from the street.
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – MAY 07: Police mobile unit intervene students who set up a solidarity encampment for Palestinians on the Roeterseiland campus of the University of Amsterdam, in Amsterdam, Netherlands on May 07, 2024. The pro-Palestinian demonstration was ended after sixteen hours by the police Mobile Unit. (Photo by Mouneb Taim/Anadolu via Getty Images)
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – MAY 07: Police mobile unit intervene students who set up a solidarity encampment for Palestinians on the Roeterseiland campus of the University of Amsterdam, in Amsterdam, Netherlands on May 07, 2024. The pro-Palestinian demonstration was ended after sixteen hours by the police Mobile Unit. (Photo by Mouneb Taim/Anadolu via Getty Images)
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – MAY 06: Amsterdam University students set up a solidarity encampment for Palestinians on the school campus in Amsterdam, Netherlands on May 06, 2024. (Photo by Mouneb Taim/Anadolu via Getty Images)
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – MAY 06: Students set up a camp and barricades on the campus of the University of Amsterdam to support Gaza on May 6, 2024, in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The Amsterdam-based student collective says it is promoting justice in Palestine, raising awareness about Israeli settler colonialism, and fighting for an academic boycott. (Photo by Pierre Crom/Getty Images)
Before police moved in, scuffles broke out Monday night between two rival groups of activists.
Police said in a statement that they cleared the makeshift camp after the protesters refused repeated orders to leave.
“The protest in this form created a very unsafe situation, partly due to the barricades that prevented emergency services from entering the site. In the event of a disaster, the activists themselves could possibly become stuck on the site,” police said.
Police said the campus was calm Tuesday morning, but that officers remained present in the area.
Calls to the university went unanswered early Tuesday and the university did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – MAY 06: Students set up a camp and barricades on the campus of the University of Amsterdam to support Gaza on May 6, 2024, in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The Amsterdam-based student collective says it is promoting justice in Palestine, raising awareness about Israeli settler colonialism, and fighting for an academic boycott. (Photo by Pierre Crom/Getty Images)
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – MAY 06: Students set up a camp and barricades on the campus of the University of Amsterdam to support Gaza on May 6, 2024, in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The Amsterdam-based student collective says it is promoting justice in Palestine, raising awareness about Israeli settler colonialism, and fighting for an academic boycott. (Photo by Pierre Crom/Getty Images)
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – MAY 06: Amsterdam University students set up a solidarity encampment for Palestinians on the school campus in Amsterdam, Netherlands on May 06, 2024. (Photo by Mouneb Taim/Anadolu via Getty Images)
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – MAY 07: Police mobile unit intervene students who set up a solidarity encampment for Palestinians on the Roeterseiland campus of the University of Amsterdam, in Amsterdam, Netherlands on May 07, 2024. The pro-Palestinian demonstration was ended after sixteen hours by the police Mobile Unit. (Photo by Mouneb Taim/Anadolu via Getty Images)
AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS – MAY 7: Police officer detain people as police mobile unit intervene students, who set up a solidarity encampment for Palestinians, on the Roeterseiland campus of the University of Amsterdam, in Amsterdam, Netherlands on May 07, 2024. The pro-Palestinian demonstration was ended after sixteen hours by the police Mobile Unit. (Photo by Mouneb Taim/Anadolu via Getty Images)
AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS – MAY 7: Police mobile unit take security measures as students set up a solidarity encampment for Palestinians, on the Roeterseiland campus of the University of Amsterdam, in Amsterdam, Netherlands on May 07, 2024. The pro-Palestinian demonstration was ended after sixteen hours by the police Mobile Unit. (Photo by Mouneb Taim/Anadolu via Getty Images)
AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS – MAY 7: Police mobile unit take security measures as students set up a solidarity encampment for Palestinians, on the Roeterseiland campus of the University of Amsterdam, in Amsterdam, Netherlands on May 07, 2024. The pro-Palestinian demonstration was ended after sixteen hours by the police Mobile Unit. (Photo by Mouneb Taim/Anadolu via Getty Images)
AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS – MAY 7: Police mobile unit take security measures as students set up a solidarity encampment for Palestinians, on the Roeterseiland campus of the University of Amsterdam, in Amsterdam, Netherlands on May 07, 2024. The pro-Palestinian demonstration was ended after sixteen hours by the police Mobile Unit. (Photo by Mouneb Taim/Anadolu via Getty Images)
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – MAY 06: Pro-Palestinian Amsterdam University students set up a camp to show solidarity with Gaza on the school campus in Amsterdam, Netherlands on May 06, 2024. The students, camping with tents on the Roeterseiland campus of the Netherlands’ Amsterdam University, demanded that the school administration cut its ties with Israeli-affiliated institutions. Since protests started last month at a number of US universities in support of Palestine, the protests have spread worldwide, including in universities across Europe. (Photo by Nikos Oikonomou/Anadolu via Getty Images)