Established in 1632 the Universiteit van Amsterdam stands before you. A rich history unfolds within these walls. It began as the Athenaeum Illustre a smaller institution focused mainly on medical teaching. Gerardus Vossius and Caspar Barlaeus were its first professors. The Athenaeum couldn’t grant doctoral degrees. Students went to other universities for those.
Amsterdam then had other higher education institutions. The Collegium Chirugicum trained surgeons. Religious institutions offered theological courses. Amsterdam’s religious freedom fostered these various schools. Students from these institutions often attended classes at the Athenaeum Illustre.
In 1877 the Athenaeum became the Municipal University of Amsterdam. It gained the right to award doctorates. The university thrived particularly in the sciences. Many Nobel laureates were associated with it including Tobias Asser Christiaan Eijkman Jacobus Henricus van ‘t Hoff Johannes Diderik van der Waals Pieter Zeeman and Frits Zernike.
The Universiteit van Amsterdam’s municipal status led to the addition of economics and social sciences faculties. Post World War II rising education costs limited the university’s growth. In 1961 it became a national university. Funding came from the national government. Professor appointments shifted to the board of governors. The city retained limited influence until 1971.
In May 1969 student protests at the Maagdenhuis the university’s administrative center made national news. Students sought more democratic influence. The protest lasted days. The police eventually ended it. The university expanded greatly after becoming national. It grew from 7500 students in 1960 to over 32000 in 2010. In 2007 the Science Park Amsterdam a 70 hectare campus opened. It houses the science faculty and a sports center.
The Universiteit van Amsterdam collaborates with the Hogeschool van Amsterdam. In 2008 they jointly founded the Amsterdam University College. This interuniversity institute offers a three year bachelor’s program in Liberal Arts and Sciences. The university’s logo a black square with three white Saint Andrew’s Crosses and a white U reflects Amsterdam’s coat of arms. The crosses are thought to represent Amsterdam’s plagues fires floods and the Black Death. The U stands for university.
The Universiteit van Amsterdam is spread throughout Amsterdam. Many buildings are in the historic city center. Architectural styles from the 15th to 21st centuries are represented. Several buildings are national monuments. The Agnietenkapel a 15th century monastery chapel is where the university was founded. The Maagdenhuis the current headquarters was once an orphanage. The Oost-Indisch Huis a former Dutch East India Company headquarters now belongs to the university. The Oudemanhuispoort a former retirement house now houses humanities departments. The Bushuis once an armory is part of the university library.
The Science Park Amsterdam houses the science faculty. It also includes research institutes student housing and businesses. The Academic Medical Center in Bijlmermeer houses the medical faculty. The Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam is in the Zuidas district. The Roeterseiland Campus houses economics business social and behavioral sciences and law faculties.
The Universiteit van Amsterdam is a leading research university. It has seven faculties each headed by a dean. Its annual budget is 600 million euros. It collaborates extensively with international institutions. The university has produced six Nobel Laureates and five Dutch prime ministers. This impressive institution continues to shape Amsterdam’s intellectual landscape.