The Amsterdam university students who were arrested when police ended a protest sit-in on Tuesday were released from custody ‘one by one’ on Wednesday, police said.

In total, 43 students and one supporter spent the night in jail after riot police broke up their occupation of the Bungehuis building in the city centre.

The students began their sit-in 12 days ago to demand more democracy and transparency from the university authorities. They are also angry at plans to merge some language degrees and to sell off the Bungehuis itself.

Amsterdam university said on Wednesday that initial contracts for the sale of the Bungehuis to property developer Aedes Real Estate have been signed.

Aedes says on its website that it will rent the property to Soho House, a British company which runs members-only clubs for people in the advertising and creative sectors.