Blowing the whistle on the government cuts

The House of Representatives will vote on 12 December about the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science's budget, as will the Senate a week later. Although the coalition may be prepared to scrap late graduation penalty and reverse 150 million of cuts to research and innovation, half a billion in cuts will still be made to higher education, research and innovation. Reason enough for WOinActie to hold another national protest.

Once again the red protest flags flew from university buildings in Leiden and The Hague. In Leiden, students and staff gathered at Cleveringaplaats by the Faculty of Humanities and in front of the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences building, Pieter de la Court. With an ear-piercing whistle concert, they made it clear to politicians in The Hague: 'Don't do it!'

President of the Executive Board, Annetje Ottow, said she hopes the whole country will realise how important higher education and research are for our well-being and prosperity.

• Annetje Ottow whistled her disapproval with other demonstrators
• Red protest flags flew from university buildings in Leiden and The Hague
• Jenneke van der Wal reads the speech given at all universities

• leiden
• the hague