How Involved are Internationals in Groningen’s Activist Scene?

For many international students, activism in the Netherlands feels less urgent than back home. So what role do they play in Groningen’s activist scene?

‘I was aware of what was happening before, but seeing the pictures my journalist friend took firsthand in Palestine made me connect much more to the cause’, says Youngchan Kim, a fine arts student from South Korea. ‘I finally knew what was going on in detail, and I felt more involved. Now, this this is part of my life.’

In 2024, the 23-year-old and two other students put together a fundraiser at Minerva, hosting a market where students sold their art, food, and handmade goods to raise money for Palestine. Youngchan was surprised by the turnout. ‘A lot of people joined. We didn’t expect so many people to participate.’

‘Throughout my life, I was mostly involved in animal liberation activism’, says Youngchan

Fifty percent of the proceeds were intended for donations. ‘Surprisingly, many people were happy to donate more than half of their earnings’, Youngchan adds. The one-day event raised around 1,600 euros, which was sent to an aid organisation based in Palestine. The organisers took on different roles, with Youngchan responsible for collecting and transferring the funds.

Youngchan’s introduction to Groningen’s activists came in 2023 through the No Border Camp. In addition to organising the fundraiser they have attended pro-Palestine protests, weekly events supporting the Palestinian cause, and vigils for animal rights.

‘Throughout my life, I was mostly involved in animal liberation activism, fighting against the livestock industry and the way meat is produced’, Youngchan explains, emphasising that this remains their main cause. Attending vigils in the Netherlands proved to be an eye-opening experience for the fine arts student. ‘When I attended vigils in South Korea, it wasn’t as smooth or peaceful as it is here. In the Netherlands, it feels much more relaxed and organised.’

Mariana: ‘In Brazil people are more engaged, they go deeper into the roots of the issue’

Mariana Chiarot, a Brazilian fine arts student at Minerva, also noticed differences in how activism is practiced in different countries. ‘Back home discussions around activism and politics happen much more, and the approach is different. In Brazil, people are more engaged and a bit more radical. Not in a bad way, I must add. They just go deeper into the roots of the issue’, she says.

For some international students, activism feels more urgent in their home countries than in Groningen. ‘I’m not from the Netherlands so Dutch problems are a little bit further away from me’, says Isobel Lambe. ‘There was a lot more activism in my life back in Ireland because there were issues that directly affected me and the laws in my country.’

Even so, the Irish Minerva student has attended several pro-Palestine demonstrations in Groningen, including one where authorities intervened. ‘I was on the spot, but I wasn’t part of the problem that the police were there for. In those protests, it’s usually not the people protesting that cause trouble, but rather outsiders who know it’s happening and set out to ruin it and start fights’, she explains.

‘You need people who know the problems up close and personal’, says Isobel

Similarly, Romanian student Arsaluis Negrisan believes she would be more involved in activism back home, simply due to her proximity to key issues. ‘If I were home, I probably would’ve been out on the streets to protest as well because it was a pretty heavy situation’, says the 23-year-old graphic design student, referring to Romania’s recent elections.

Yet, despite some international students feeling a greater connection to activism in their home countries, many still play a key role in shaping the Dutch city’s activist landscape. ‘We’re in Europe, in a fairly well-off country, so you need the other perspective. You need other nationalities and different cultures, people who know the problems up close and personal’, says Isobel.

Mariana noticed that many Dutch activists have a mixed or multicultural background

For some, international students are not just participants but key drivers of Groningen’s activist scene. ‘I think international students carry the activism’, shares Mariana. While the Brazilian student has met engaged Dutch activists, she notes that many of them came from mixed or multicultural backgrounds.

Some of the students find it easy to get involved and describe the activist scene as inclusive. Others feel that activism spaces remain primarily local. ‘They’re not trying to make it more international, but they’re also not excluding or banning people’, Youngchan says. ‘If you’re interested, you can join, but if you’re not, you might not hear about it.’

Mariana echoes this statement, emphasising that activism in Groningen is open to those who seek it. ‘If you look for it, you’re going to find what’s going on in the city. So in that sense, Groningen is accessible to international students.’

Picture: activists in Groningen (photographer Niels Punter)