AMSTERDAM'S FAMOUS NATIONAL MUSEUM, THE RIJKSMUSEUM, WAS CLOSED BRIEFLY TODAY (12 JUNE) WHEN ARTISTS OCCUPIED THE "NIGHT WATCH" SALON IN A PROTEST SIT-IN. THE ARTISTS WERE DEMONSTRATING AGAINST A PROPOSAL BY THE MINISTER OF CULTURE TO CUT-BACK THEIR SUBSIDIES. THEY LEFT VOLUNTARILY AFTER THEIR OVERNIGHT OCCUPATION.

THE "NIGHT WATCH" SALON CONTAINS REMBRANDT'S PRICELESS PAINTING OF THE SAME NAME.

ABOUT 500 STUDENTS GATHERED OUTSIDE THE MUSEUM DURING THE NIGHT PAINTING SLOGANS ON THE WALLS AND SHOUTING THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE ARTISTS.

AFTER THE SIT-IN ENDED THE ARTISTS JOINED THE STUDENTS IN A PROTEST MARCH ON THE PALACE OF JUSTICE WHERE A MASS TRIAL BEGAN THIS MORNING OF STUDENTS INVOLVED IN LAST MONTH'S DEMONSTRATION AT AMSTERDAM UNIVERSITY. THE COURT WAS HEARING THE FIRST TWO CASES AGAINST 543 STUDENTS WHO WERE CHARGED WITH DISTURBING THE PEACE.

ON LEARNING THE SENTENCES OF THE TWO STUDENTS, A CROWD OF ABOUT 500 MARCHED TO THE UNIVERSITY'S AUDITORIUM AND OCCUPIED IT. THE FIRST STUDENT WAS SENTENCED TO A MONTH IMPRISONMENT AND THE SECOND SIX WEEKS.