Organisers say thousands of Dutch students are expected to demonstrate in The Hague against cuts to university budgets and increases in fees proposed by the government as part of its multibillion euro austerity package. The national student union expects more than 15,000 students to gather in The Hague to protest the cuts that will cost universities thousands of jobs and increase fees for students who do not complete their studies on time.
Many universities have cancelled classes Friday and chartered buses to allow students to attend, while professors in black gowns are protesting near Parliament. Police say they are watching for possible violence, warning that unspecified "radicals" may attempt to disrupt the peaceful protest.