Melike Pala
25 February 2026•Update: 25 February 2026
BRUSSELS
A Dutch cultural center in Utrecht has canceled a scheduled concert, citing safety concerns after far-right groups called on social media for a rally outside the venue.
The left-leaning political and cultural venue ACU said it decided to call off Tuesday evening’s performance to ensure the safety of volunteers and visitors, public broadcaster NOS reported Wednesday.
The concert, featuring Rotterdam-based band Thrilled, had already been moved forward by one day after organizers learned of a planned demonstration at the same time.
However, the venue later announced on its website that the event had been fully canceled due to “unforeseen circumstances” and would be rescheduled.
An ACU spokesperson told Dutch news agency ANP that there was no specific incident prompting the decision, but said online reactions and the broader atmosphere raised safety concerns.
Four far-right organizations called on social media for a memorial gathering Wednesday in front of the venue.
The rally is intended to commemorate Quentin Deranque, a 23-year-old French student who died earlier this month from injuries sustained in an alleged assault involving several individuals believed to have links to far-left circles.
The far-right rally, reportedly involving the group Defend Netherlands, has not been formally registered with Utrecht authorities.
A municipal spokesperson said advance notification of demonstrations is not mandatory under Dutch law.
No security risk area has been designated, and the municipality declined to specify under what conditions such a measure would be implemented, saying authorities are preparing for various scenarios.
