For a number of years now, universities in the Netherlands have been paying more attention to students whose parents did not attend a (Dutch) university: the so-called first-generation students. These students experience difficulties in finding their way around and feeling at home within the university, because no one in their immediate environment can help them with this.
Although the term first-generation student is fairly new, the university archives show that since de Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam was founded in 1880, there have been numerous students enrolled whose parents did not have an academic degree. Are their experiences comparable to those of first-generation students today? Can we learn anything or draw inspiration from their experiences? Does the comparison with students from a completely different era even make sense?
In this exhibition, we do not (yet) offer answers to these questions, but we do provide an insight into current historical research on first-generation students. We highlight seven individuals whose biographies give an impression of the lives of first-generation students between 1880 and 1955.
This exhibition can be seen in the UL's heritage showcase on the 1st floor of the VU Main Building and runs from September 8 to November 24, 2025.