Live: protest in Wijnhaven building Leiden University
Around 1:00 p.m., a group of more than one hundred pro-Palestinian protesters gathered at the The Hague campus. Participants chanted slogans and put up banners. The vast majority of those taking part left the building after a short time. However, a small group refused to leave. Follow updates in this live blog.
21.11 We are currently closing the liveblog because the demonstration and occupation have ended and because the Wijnhaven and Beehive buildings will reopen tomorrow as usual.
18.00 Both Wijnhaven and Beehive will reopen as normal tomorrow. LU-Card checks will be intensified. Please be on time as the entry checks may take a bit longer than usual. There will also be more security on the premises.
17.30 The Wijnhaven building will remain closed today. If you need to access your belongings for urgent reasons (such as medicine / house keys), you can call the UFB reception desk until 7pm: 070 800 9500.
16.35 The Wijnhaven and Beehive buildings will unfortunately remain closed today because locks, including those on emergency doors, have been damaged by the protesters and barricades are present inside the building. There are no longer any protesters present in Wijnhaven.
15.40 The Beehive student centre is also closed. People are still able to leave the building.
14.50 The Wijnhaven building will remain closed for the time being. Of course, we will let you know as soon as the doors reopen.
14.30 The bicycle parking will remain closed until further notice.
14.00 There is an occupation taking place at Wijnhaven. The emergency exits have been barricaded, and therefore we are going to evacuate the building.
Protests are in principle permitted, but they must comply with the university’s house rules. Unannounced protests are not allowed. Some members of the group are wearing face coverings, which is also against the university’s house rules.
In addition, because they have blocked one or more emergency exits and doors, the safety of everyone in the building may be at risk. In accordance with the house rules, the university is therefore obliged to evacuate the building.
13.00 The doors at the main entrance are now closed. You can no longer enter, but you can still exit.