Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

This is how we celebrated 145 years of VU Amsterdam! 🎉

Yesterday at the Dies Natalis, we explored ‘A Broader Mind in a Divided World’, a theme that highlights how openness and understanding can help bridge divisions.

A big thank you to everyone who joined us in celebrating our 145th anniversary! 💙

The celebrations continue! 🎉

We recently marked 145 years of VU Amsterdam, and today Amsterdam celebrates its official 750th anniversary!

From our beginnings in the city centre to our campus in Amsterdam-Zuid, we’ve grown alongside the city we’re proud to call home 💙

Back in 1300, Amsterdam had only about 1,000 inhabitants. Over the centuries, it has transformed into the vibrant global city we know today.

📸 Then vs now: the site of our main building in 1967 and our campus today.

145 years of VU Amsterdam! 🎉

Here are some facts to commemorate our 145 years:

💡 The name Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam refers to our independence from both the state and the church.
🏢 VU Amsterdam used to be located in the centre of Amsterdam, but we moved to the Zuidas business district 55 years ago.
🎓 Our first three faculties were Theology, Law and Humanities.
🔎 Since its founding, VU Amsterdam has stood for value-driven research with a strong social focus.
🌳 We are the only university in Amsterdam with one campus that connects all faculties in one place.
🌸 Our campus includes a fully equipped sports centre, a cinema, two bars, a theatre, an art gallery and a botanical garden.

We can’t wait to see how we’ll continue to grow in the years to come!

Join us in celebrating this milestone during the Dies Natalis on 20 November. Find more information here: edu.nl/ncdc4

Commemorating Martin Luther King at VU Amsterdam 💡

Last night we held our annual Martin Luther King Lecture, and it was an inspiring evening. Here are some highlights:

🎤 Keynote by Nani Jansen Reventlow on radical justice and how law and social movements can create real change.
✍️ Spoken Word contest: young talents shared their interpretations of radical justice.
💬 Reflections and discussions with experts connecting global and local perspectives on social justice.
🎶 A wonderful performance by OTION.
🙏 Farewell to Dave Ensberg-Kleijkers as chairman of the Martin Luther King Foundation.

A big congratulations to all contestants and winners of the Spoken Word contest! 💙

The new academic year has officially kicked off!

Our ceremony centred around the question: What does it mean to be connected to the world around you?

Here are some highlights from the day:

💡 This year’s theme: Global Citizens.
💬 Margrethe Jonkman opened the ceremony with an inspiring introduction to this year's theme.
🎤 Keynote speaker Sigrid Kaag reflected on the urgency of international cooperation, social justice, and academic freedom.
🌍 VU researchers explored how global citizenship takes shape in law and policy.
💬 Tanja Jadnanansing brought the discussion closer to home, our city and our students.
✍️ Writer-in-residence Thomas Heerma van Voss gave a powerful reading on the topic.
💃 The Griffioen Dance Crew gave a wonderful performance.

A big thank you to all our guests and speakers! Here’s to a great academic year ahead 💙

An evening of reflection, ritual, and connection 💡

Last night, philosopher and writer Désanne van Brederode delivered the 2025 Abraham Kuyper Lecture. She called for more playfulness and rituals not as a distraction, but as a way to build empathy, imagination, and togetherness in a polarised world.

The evening began with a warm welcome by Ernest van der Kwast, followed by Merlijn Twaalfhoven, who got everyone involved right away and set a playful mood for the night. Later, our Rector Magnificus Jeroen Geurts announced the new writer in residence: Thomas Heerma van Voss.

We also heard thoughtful reflections from Jacqueline Bel and Sander Balkenende, moving student columns on personal rituals, and a beautiful closing performance by the VU Choir 🎶

Thank you to all who joined us 💙 Till next time!

This is how we celebrated 144 years of VU Amsterdam! 🎉

Yesterday at the Dies Natalis, we explored 'Embracing Complexity', a theme that reminds us that complex issues like sustainability can be opportunities for growth, not obstacles.

A big thank you to everyone who made this an unforgettable night! 🎓💙

Goodbye summer break, hello new academic year! 💙

This year's theme, Reason for Hope, highlights our commitment to a better future.
Thank you to everyone who made the start of this year special!

We had a blast during the VU Introduction Days! 🎉
 
A few highlights:
⚓️ Enjoying Amsterdam on a boat
🎨 Creative painting
🎲 Games
 🫧 Bubble football
💪 Sports challenges
💃 Drag Queen Bingo
🪩 Parties!

We hope you all had an amazing time! 💙

Celebrating summer on campus! ☀️

Our annual Déjà VU Festival transformed our shiny new campus square to a festival terrain with a spectacular program:

Live interactive sessions with our leading scientists
🧪Experiments at the Science Fair
🍔Food trucks and the festival market
🎤Karaoke andtThe VU's Got Talent!-show
👥Many familiar faces at our Alumnus Square
.. and of course many musical performances!

Thank you to everyone who truly made it a day & night to remember! 💙

The Déjà VU Festival is made possible by: VUvereniging and VU Griffioen.