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The photographs in this article were taken by Jan Arsenovic on 1 November 2025, Utrecht
For more than a year, Serbia has been in turmoil due to large-scale student protests. Young people are demanding justice, an end to corruption and the restoration of the rule of law. The spark was ignited when the newly renovated roof of the train station in Novi Sad collapsed. Sixteen people were killed. Reports soon emerged of construction errors, missing millions and nepotism. Students are now demanding that all documents be made public and that new elections be held to hold President Vučić's ruling SNS party to account. For the time being, the government is refusing to do so.
But the anger does not remain within national borders. Solidarity actions are being held throughout Europe. This is also the case in the Netherlands, where the Holandija Dijaspora group organised several demonstrations over the past year. Hundreds of people gathered at the Museumplein in September, and in Utrecht there was a photo exhibition about Serbian activism, recognisable by the image of red blood on the hands (see photos by Jan Arsenovic).
We spoke with two Serbian students, Katarina Jauković and Milica Milošavljević, who study in Amsterdam and Nijmegen and are active in the Dutch branch of the movement. Why do they think the Dutch should know what is happening in Serbia? And what can we do from the Netherlands?
One year of protest
1 November marked exactly one year since the canopy in Novi Sad collapsed. On that day, thousands took to the streets again. According to Katarina, the situation has only become more dire in recent months: “Since November 2024, the country has been in a state of constant flux. But the atmosphere has changed: the security services are cracking down harder, using violence, arresting people arbitrarily and deploying tear gas.”
She talks about the mother of one of the victims, Dijana Hrka, who went on hunger strike. “Instead of listening to her, she is ridiculed and attacked by pro-government media. It says everything about how the authorities deal with criticism.”
Milica adds that students themselves are at the heart of the movement: “We organised blockades that lasted for months. In some cities, schools were closed for almost a year. But the repression grew. On Vidovdan, 28 June, after a protest with the usual 16 minutes of silence, the police responded with extreme force in the evening. People were beaten, and spontaneous blockades formed in which demonstrators tried to protect each other. Pro-government groups also joined in the violence by throwing objects at demonstrators.’ Meanwhile, state media are running a campaign portraying students as extremists. Independent media are being attacked or demonised.
What do the students want?
The movement's demands are clear: full transparency regarding the disaster in Novi Sad, justice for the violence against students and teachers, and swift, fair parliamentary elections. “None of the demands have been met,” says Milica. “And it’s not just about the canopy. It affects the entire functioning of the country: justice, public institutions, and the responsibility of politicians. The president announces elections, but they are never organised fairly.”
New elections must be held in Serbia by the end of 2027 at the latest. President Aleksandar Vučić refuses to hold them in the short term. According to Katarina, this is no coincidence: “The ruling party is aware that it will lose to the students. That is why fair elections have been prevented for thirteen years: through pressure on citizens, foreign vote manipulation, and fraud. Before 2027, international organisations must truly supervise and attach consequences to electoral fraud.”
Meanwhile, students are preparing their own list, in case a vote does take place. Not with students themselves, but with independent experts who will be responsible for overseeing a transition period.
“Direct democracy is our foundation”
What is special about the movement is that decisions are not made from above, but through direct democracy.
“Open meetings are held at every faculty throughout the country., plenary sessions,” explains Milica. “Anyone can join in, participate in the discussion and vote. Even now that the blockades have ended because people are attending lectures again, the plenary sessions continue to exist. It is a permanent structure.”
This makes the movement leaderless: without figureheads, and with shared responsibility.
Why the Netherlands needs to know this
Katarina emphasises that this is not a geopolitical protest: “Firstly, it is important to understand that this protest not for or against Europe It is not about geopolitics, but about local justice and responsibility. Corruption also exists within EU countries such as Croatia, Romania and Hungary – joining the EU does not automatically solve that. Change must come from within. We must demand our change.”
Serbia is a candidate for EU membership and still receives substantial European funding, for example through the Growth Plan. Milica therefore emphasises that the Netherlands also has a responsibility: “The Netherlands should stand up for justice, the rule of law and the fight against corruption. We should not enter into political deals with the current Serbian government, such as the controversial lithium deal with Rio Tinto. The Netherlands must demand transparency regarding corruption within the Serbian government and express clear support for the student movement, democrats and human rights organisations.”
Katarina points out that other countries are already taking steps: “Sweden has suspended certain forms of support to the Serbian state. That is a signal that the Netherlands could also send.”
Solidarity in the Netherlands
Katarina and Milica, together with dozens of volunteers, are committed to raising awareness in the Netherlands as well. “We have a strong diaspora community,” says Milica. “We have already organised several protests and have various working groups within the community.”
Donations – thousands of euros have already been raised – are being used to support students in Serbia with food, shoes for long protest marches, legal assistance and materials for blockades. Cycling trips to Strasbourg have been organised from Belgrade and Novi Sad, and runners have raced to Brussels to draw attention to the cause. Students from the Netherlands also took part in solidarity.
The exhibition, photographs of which are included in this article, will also go ahead. “We want to transform the exhibition into a travelling exhibition that visits universities,” Milica explains. “We will continue for as long as necessary.”
“We also hope that more and more Dutch people and Dutch students will join us. The struggle of students in Serbia is a shared struggle for self-determination, democracy and civil rights. For every individual. One of the movement's most important mottos is: One world, one fight.”
For the latest updates, Milica and Katarina recommend the platform. A3S – Academic Solidarity with Students in Serbia active on Instagram and other channels, with explanations in English and reliable information.
The students in Serbia are demonstrating what is possible when people organise themselves and demand to be heard. Would you like to join this movement in the Netherlands? Please email holandija.dijaspora@gmail.com and sign up for the newsletter – you may soon find yourself at one of the protests.
