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The 'Universiteit van Amsterdam' (meaning ''University of Amsterdam'' in Dutch) is a comprehensive research university located in the heart of the city of Amsterdam, the Netherlands. With a budget of €487 million, over 25,000 students and around 5,000 staff in 2006, the UvA is one of the major universities in Europe. There are seven faculties, Humanities, Social and Behavioral sciences, Economy, Law, Science, Medicine and Dentistry. It has a strong internationalization programme and offers over 85 English Master programmes taught in English, as well as a number of Dutch and English language courses. The Universiteit van Amsterdam (UvA) should not be confused with Amsterdam's second university, the Vrije Universiteit (VU).

Contents

History

Athenaeum

Municipal university

"Universiteit van Amsterdam"

Notable alumni

Politics

Science

Arts

Sports

External links

History

Athenaeum

The commonly-held predecessor of the Universiteit van Amsterdam, the ''Athenaeum Illustre'' (Latin - the illustrious Athenaeum) was founded in the 14th-century Agnietenkapel in Amsterdam in 1632, to educate students in History and Philosophy. Professors lectured publicly and tutored privately. In January 1632 two internationally acclaimed scientists, Caspar Barlaeus and Gerardus Vossius, held their inaugural speechs here. In the course of the seventeenth century, Law, Medicine and Theology were introduced in the curriculum. Alumni (whilst it was still the Athenaeum) include Cornelis Petrus Tiele.

Municipal university

The Athenaeum remained a small institution until the nineteenth century, with no more than 250 students and eight teachers. This situation changed only slowly. In 1815 the Athenaeum Illustre was legally acknowledged as an institute of higher education. In 1877, it became the ''Gemeentelijke Universiteit van Amsterdam'' (GU or 'Municipal University') and was permitted to confer higher degrees. The professors were appointed by the city council and the mayor presided over the university administration. Because the Amsterdam city council was noted for its progressive politics this scheme guaranteed a large degree of intellectual freedom for the university.

"Universiteit van Amsterdam"

Very little then changed until 1961, when the national government took control of financial responsibility. The university ceased to be the ''Gemeentelijke Universiteit'' and finally became the ''Universiteit van Amsterdam''.
In 1969 the university became nationwide news when the university's administrative center at the ''Maagdenhuis'' was occupied by students who wanted more democratic influence. During the seventies and eighties the university was often the target of nationwide student actions.

Notable alumni

Politics

★ Wubbo de Boer, president of OHIM

★ Els Borst, former minister of Health

★ Ad Melkert, former minister of Social Affairs and Employment

★ Jacqueline Cramer, minister of Housing and the Environment

Science

★ Anton Pannekoek, Dutch communist and astrophysicist

★ Luitzen Egbertus Jan Brouwer, mathematician

★ Frits Zernike, Nobel Prize in Physics 1953

Arts

★ Menno ter Braak, writer

★ Willem Frederik Hermans, writer

★ Janneke Jonkman, writer

★ Stijn Roelofs, Journalist Filmmaker

★ J. Slauerhoff, writer

★ Karin Spaink, journalist

★ Simon Vestdijk, writer

★ Dirk Wolthekker, journalist, writer

Sports

★ Max Euwe, World Chess Champion 1935–1937

External links

★ Universiteit van Amsterdam

★ Universiteit van Amsterdam

★ Universiteit van Amsterdam, slide show

★ Universiteit van Amsterdam. Opinions by ERASMUS and other international students at iAgora.com