Stink protest at Delft Career Days

Visitors to the Delft Career Days have been surrounded by a pungent odour all day. The cause is an oily substance on the entrance doors to the Aula, which has soaked into the carpet.

According to the Delft Career Days board, the substance was smeared on the doors upon their arrival at the Aula Monday morning. Chair Merel Vooijs does not know who did it. According to her, no message has been left. “There is CCTV footage, but we haven’t seen it yet.”

Monday is the first of three so-called Orientation Days. Hundreds of companies are present to promote themselves to students. According to Vooijs, ‘everyone is happy’, despite the stench. She speaks of a ‘great success’.

Criticism

“It’s been smelling like a stink bomb went off here all day,” said the person who tipped Delta off about the odour. Despite this, everyone is going about their business as usual. Delta itself cannot enter the private event because the board did not give permission in advance.

The Delft Career Days have been the target of criticism before. In recent years, activists have demonstrated against the presence of fossil fuel companies and companies affiliated with the military industry. Last week, Delta reported that TU Delft had given the names of five End Fossil activists to the police prior to the Delft Career Days in 2024. This led to much outrage and questions for Mayor Alexander Pechtold.