A broad representation of the Dutch and Belgian cultural sector feels compelled to proceed with a cultural boycott of Israel. It no longer wishes to remain on the sidelines of war crimes, crimes against humanity and a genocide of the Palestinian people recognised by all authoritative institutions. Among others, Bonnefanten, DE SINGEL, Nederlands Film Festival, Museum voor Schone Kunsten Gent, Rijksacademie voor de Kunsten, Kunstencentrum VIERNULVIER and Het Zuidelijk Toneel have signed the boycott. Artists such as Marlene Dumas, Maryam Hassouni, Tom Lanoye, Alain Platel, Babs Gons, Sinan Çankaya, David Van Reybrouck, Eric Corton, Nasrdin Dchar and Ramsey Nasr also support the call. New institutions and artists are still joining every day.
The boycott targets the Israeli state and all Israeli institutions and companies. Excluded are organisations that are not complicit in violations of international law and have spoken out unequivocally against genocide, illegal occupation and apartheid. The boycott explicitly does not target individuals or their origins, i.e. Israelis as such, but the complicity of Israeli institutions and companies in human rights violations against Palestinians.
This means, among other things, that participating organisations and artists will not enter into collaborations with the complicit organisations, nor will they show their work in Israeli theatres, pop stages, museums or film festivals.
After almost two years of genocide in Gaza, since March 2025 Israel stepped up the violence further until the total destruction of the Gaza Strip. Every form of Palestinian culture is destroyed: churches, mosques, educational institutions, libraries and cultural heritage are primary targets, as are journalists, humanitarian workers, medics and artists. In the West Bank and Jerusalem, Palestinians are also increasingly denied life. It is only the latest phase of a decades-long policy that has systematically oppressed, marginalised and expelled Palestinians.
A boycott from the cultural sector will not be enough to stop the genocide and occupation. The signatories therefore also call on the sports, academic, economic and political sectors to cut ties with Israel. Only together can we force Israel to abide by international law.
This boycott is not a decision taken lightly. The cultural sector is built on the belief that artistic exchange makes the world a better place, or at least does no harm. However, there can be no business as usual: impunity must end.
