VSNU

Profile VU University Amsterdam

In 1880 statesman and theologian Abraham Kuyper founded his Vrije Universiteit as a private initiative: the first Dutch university not controlled by church or state. Hence the name, the ‘Free University’. For many years it was maintained solely by private donations. Even so the institution grew steadily – from just five students and five professors in 1880 to more than 19,000 students and 4,000 staff employed today. There still is only one campus in order to simplify cooperation across subject boundaries. We also have our own teaching hospital, the VU University Medical Center (VUmc), with which we cooperate intensively, situated in the vicinity of our campus .

VU University Amsterdam has always received funds from the community, so to this day we believe that it is our responsibility to give something back. The idea that academic endeavour is more valuable when it makes a contribution to the world we live in inspires us in our research and determines our views on education. That commitment to society is as important today as it ever was. The VU University Amsterdam is an ever-growing community institution where researchers, tutors and students work conscientiously together, with mutual respect, and learning from each other.