A protest is being organised by AOB, one of the largest trade unions for educators in the Netherlands, along with 10 other organisations and institutions, and will take place in Utrecht on September 2.

It comes in the wake of the Schoof government‘s proposed move to significantly slash the country’s higher education and research budget, marking the largest cut in decades, which protestors are describing as a “bloodbath for innovation”.

Under the plans, the budget for research and science is set to be cut by €1.1billion while higher education funding will be cut by €215million per year.

Meanwhile, the country’s National Growth Fund, which has been a crucial source of financing for research, development, and innovation, will be scrapped altogether if the government’s plans go ahead.

“The government is putting the future of young people and Dutch prosperity at risk with unprecedented budget cuts,” Caspar van den Berg, president of Universities of the Netherlands, told The PIE News.

“Scientific education and research are hit hardest in this ‘headline agreement’ of the new government,” he continued.

“It is an illusion to think you can cut €1billion from scientific education, research, and innovation without damaging the earning power of the Netherlands, the resilience of our society, and important innovations that make our society healthier and safer. “

Van den Berg branded the plans as “penny wise, pound foolish”.

“Together with action groups, trade unions, and student organisations, we will campaign against the cabinet’s plans on Monday, the day of the opening of the academic year,” he said.

The protestors are also rallying against a €3,000 fine for long-term study, which is also outlined in the coalition’s agreement. Opponents of the policy argue it will make higher education less accessible.

Under the new policy, students who must delay their studies due to personal circumstances – such as a disability – will see their tuition fees increased. Others have pointed out that this would discourage students from undertaking a full-time board year at a student union or sorority due to the penalty.

The organisation of the protest follows a joint letter, signed by protesting organisations and institutions, in which they outlined the importance of universities coming together to resist the plans.

“Rolling back recent investments in research increases the country’s already existing shortfall regarding investments in knowledge and innovation, and makes the Netherlands less attractive to international talent,” the letter read.

“The cuts limit independent research and the prospect of sustainable employment, especially for young researchers.”

Signatories said the damage of the cuts would be compounded under the impact of the Internationalisation in Balance Act – the policy set to restrict the intake of non-Dutch students and teachers, which critics say will threaten the international character of universities and research institutions.

“We must prevent the law from having a negative impact on diversity and on the quality of our education and scientific research,” the open letter read.

The announced cuts of €1bn on higher education will have severe consequences, far more severe than we seem to fathom at this point

Yarin Eski, Vrije Universiteit

“Without international researchers and lecturers, programmes will shrink and research will dwindle.”

Concerned stakeholders voiced worries around talented students and researchers being temped to go elsewhere, and said that signs of ‘brain drain’ are already visible.

“The announced cuts of €1bn on higher education will have severe consequences, far more severe than we seem to fathom at this point,” wrote Yarin Eski, associate professor, Vrije Universiteit, in a LinkedIn post to drum up support for the protest.

“It will affect the quality of higher education we have built up after the Second World War. The cuts will also numb research. Many jobs at (applied) universities will disappear, and studying will become even more expensive.

“Eventually, the Dutch knowledge economy risks becoming an ignorant economy that will push out innovation, international partners and the very strengths we have as a small but still smart country.

“In that sense, it is not just higher education but every organisation and every person that depends on our knowledge economy that will be affected.”