Students have occupied lecture halls and university buildings in Amsterdam, Nijmegen, Utrecht and Rotterdam. Dozens of students entered the buildings, blockaded the entrances and hung up banners.

They are protesting against Education Minister Ronald Plasterk's plans for cutbacks in higher education. They are particularly opposed to the abolition of the basic grant and are demanding that the universities and their umbrella organisation the VSNU reject the cutbacks.
 

The students have the support of the opposition Socialist Party. MP Jasper van Dijk says, "The more young people show their opposition to the cutbacks, the sooner the government will realise its plan is wrongheaded."
 

Civil service working groups are currently looking for ways to save billions of euros in higher education. The SP is worried that the basic student grant will be changed into a loan of tens of thousands of euros and "studying will become a luxury item".

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