Independent journalism about VU Amsterdam | Since 1953
3 August 2026
Magazine
Nederlands

Peter Breedveld

15 November 2023

‘We want to know why people throw their food away’

Students Reiko Saito (19) and Adithya Vasisth (24) are on a mission. They want to tackle the problem of food waste, starting at VU.
12 October 2023

‘For some people it’s very important what is in your passport’

VU has started the academic year with a brand-new works council, including three young international employees. Who are they and what do they hope to achieve as members? 
5 October 2023

‘ChatGPT is like heroin’

The University Student Council wants VU to be more accessible, with controlled use of ChatGPT and bins for waste separation. Mental health, blended learning, artificial intelligence, sustainability, accessibility, career guidance and the lottery system to select students for popular studies…
15 June 2023

‘VU should let go of international ambitions’

If VU Amsterdam wishes to attract international students, she should take better care of them, according to the works council. If international students and staff are required to learn Dutch in the future, should VU provide language courses? And shouldn’t…
7 March 2023

‘People get uncomfortable if you say you’re Jewish’

Professor of Jewish studies Jessica Roitman wants to show the diversity of Judaism. ‘People are surprised when they hear that there are Black and Asian Jews.’
1 February 2023

Too few candidates for works council elections

There are hardly any new candidates for the works council elections in March. A problem, says chairman Henk Olijhoek, because the participation council needs fresh blood.
16 November 2022

‘PhD candidates are a very vulnerable group’

PhD candidates at VU Amsterdam are now represented by an officially recognized PhD council. ‘We are kind of a lobby club that makes PhD related issues visible.’
31 August 2022

‘Be tough on your teachers, but don’t cancel them’

‘Wokeness’ has brought us wonderful things, but cancelling people is not the way forward, says VU professor Bert Jan Lietaert Peerbolte. He proposes an academic safe space.
16 June 2022

Bullying and psychic violence rise sharply

VU employees are reasonably content, but they do bully each other more than employees at other universities. On the other hand, the number of cases of academic misconduct seems to have decreased considerably. Employees of our university are reasonably satisfied,…
2 June 2022

‘Young people should be the last group to target with restrictions’

The number of people with mental issues has increased considerably in the first year of the coronavirus pandemic, VU research shows. ‘But too few people have access to the help they need.’
Peter Breedveld
Peter Breedveld -
Get in contact with Peter