Emma Sprangers, Author at Ad Valvas

16 April 2026

An iPad for your vote

With costly gifts like an iPad and a Nintendo Switch up for grabs, the University Student Council is pulling out all the stops to get students to vote. But is that alone enough to move the needle on voter turnout?

15 April 2026

The Netherlands receives outsized share of European research funding

Countries in Central and Eastern Europe are becoming increasingly successful in applying for European research grants. However, the gap with the Netherlands and the rest of the EU remains considerable. “We’re losing an enormous amount of talent.”

13 April 2026

Here’s who you can vote for in the student council elections

After a tumultuous year in the University Student Council, the (battle?)field looks calmer this time around. VSP is no longer running, and students can choose from three parties: incumbent ChangeVU and newcomers ConsensusVU and VU Student Coalition.

9 April 2026

‘You don’t always have to include the opposing perspective’

As a programme maker for 3D, Jaron van der Veer tries to draw the ‘hard-to-reach VU student’ to thought-provoking events.

9 April 2026

Room service and rats

In the midst of Amsterdam’s housing shortage, student hotels offer a lifeline to incoming international students looking for a room. But do the amenities weigh up against their exorbitant prices?

18 March 2026

Third of international students don’t feel at home in the Netherlands

While international students are mostly satisfied with Dutch higher education, they do experience challenges related to student finance and housing. Many also often feel excluded by their Dutch peers.

12 March 2026

Mental health support and financial aid for Iranian students in the Netherlands

Several higher education institutions are offering support to their students from Iran. This already started before the war broke out. In total, the Netherlands has more than 1,200 Iranian students.

26 February 2026

Large-scale student protests at universities in Iran

Since Saturday, large protests have again been taking place at universities across Iran. “The mood has shifted,” says Iran expert Peyman Jafari: “Students don’t want to go back to square one.”

24 February 2026

The mother tongue hidden in a chest

For those who speak multiple languages, language is more than a mere tool for communication. During the VU Mother Language Day, it became clear just how strongly language is connected to memory, identity and loss.

18 February 2026

Students walk out of dinner with executive board

During a dinner with student representatives and the VU executive board last week, a large part of the room walked out after rector Geurts’ speech.

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