VU archives at Stadsarchief Amsterdam

Currently available for consultation via the Stadsarchief:

• Archive Board of Curators

  To govern the Vrije Universiteit (VU) in Amsterdam, the General Assembly of Members of the Vereeniging voor Hooger Onderwijs op Gereformeerden Grondslag chose the College of Directors. This College in turn appointed the Board of Curators.

  The Board of Curators was responsible for education and research and advised on the nomination of professors to be appointed. Initially for three faculties: Theology, Law and Literature. In the years 1880-1883, the first VU students received lectures in the upper room of the Scottish Mission Church.

  An amendment to the regulations of the VU (1956) made faculties visible administrative units and the Board of Curators provided information between them.

  In 1970, the University Governance Reform Act (WUB) came into force: a thorough reform of university governance. The highest governing body became the University Council, which included academic and support staff as well as students. The Board of Directors and the Board of Curators were replaced by the Executive Board, which acted as the day-to-day administration.

  To the Amsterdam City Archives >> (Only available in Dutch)

• Archive Board of Deans

  In 1970, the University Governance Reform Act (WUB) came into force, and from that year the VU was also funded on a par with other Dutch universities. The major administrative influence of the VU Association (1) declined in favour of more government influence. University governance was thoroughly reformed, a process that finally took hold at the VU in 1972. The highest governing body became the University Council (2), which included academic and support staff as well as students. The Board of Directors (3) and the Board of Curators (4), which had existed since VU's foundation, were replaced by the Board of Governors (5), which began to function as the day-to-day administration. The Senate (6) was abolished as such and succeeded by the College of Deans. The Board gives solicited and unsolicited advice to the Executive Board, the University Council, the VU Association and faculty boards on research and education in particular. It advises on newly appointed (special) professors and on the establishment of special chairs, and it approves promotions. In addition, the Board of Deans is responsible for awarding honorary doctorates and for organising academic ceremonies, such as the Dies Natalis and the opening of the academic year. It also initiates special lectures, such as the Kuyper Lecture and the Dom Helder Camara Lecture. Finally, the College maintains contacts with other universities and colleges at home and abroad.

  To the Amsterdam City Archives >> (Only available in Dutch)

• Archive Board of Directors

  To govern the Vrije Universiteit (VU) in Amsterdam, the General Assembly of Members of the Vereeniging voor Hooger Onderwijs op Gereformeerden Grondslag chose the Board of Directors. This College formed the board of both the Association and the University and in turn appointed the Board of Curators.

  The Board of Directors dealt with policy matters and the operations of the Association and the University. It was responsible for making and amending by-laws and instructions for the University's trustees; managing property; compiling the annual reports of the Association; appointing the trustees; founding schools and determining their location (consent of trustees required) and appointing and dismissing professors and other appointees. The college was not allowed to interfere with the content of education.

  In 1970, the University Governance Reform Act (WUB) came into force: a thorough reform of university governance. The highest governing body became the University Council, which included academic and support staff as well as students. The Board of Directors and the Board of Curators were replaced by the Executive Board, which acted as the day-to-day administration.

  The archive covers the period 1879-1972. The oldest record dates from 1876 and the youngest from 1980.

  To the Amsterdam City Archives >> (Only available in Dutch)

• Archive Executive Board

  In 1970, the University Governance Reform Act (WUB) came into force. A temporary law, it made provisions for the democratisation of university governance. A separation was made between the governance of the VU Association and that of the university; the high administrative influence of the association declined in favour of more government influence. University governance was thoroughly reformed, a process that finally came to fruition in 1972. The University Council (UR) now became the highest governing body. It included academic and support staff as well as students, and non-university members (on behalf of the VU Association). The Board of Directors and the Board of Curators, which had existed since VU's foundation, were replaced by a Board of Governors (CvB), which became the university's executive board.

  The CvB initially consisted of five members: the Rector Magnificus, two members appointed by the VU Association and two members elected by the University Council from the academic body. It was given a predominantly preparatory and executive role, with some powers of its own. In addition, it was responsible for financial management and personnel policy according to University Council guidelines. The decision-making power on most matters lay with the University Council.
  
  The Act of 4 May 1977, extending the period of operation and amending the WUB 1970, better delineated the Executive Board's own powers in relation to the university council.

  In 1987, the implementation of the revision of the Scientific Education Act (WWO 1986) took place. The number of members of the Executive Board was reduced to three and since then consisted of the president, the Rector Magnificus and a third member. Each college member's portfolio was thereby made heavier. The powers of the University Council were reduced to a few essential matters, such as determining multi-year plans and budgets. The size of the council was reduced and its role became more advisory and controlling. This also changed the tasks and powers of the Board of Directors and gave it more decision-making power, such as in adopting faculty regulations.

  Since 2001, in line with the 1997 University Administrative Organisation Modernisation Act (MUB), the Board of Directors has been appointed by a Supervisory Board, to which it is also accountable. The members of the Supervisory Board are appointed by the Members' Council of the VU Association. The Board of Directors is responsible for general policy on education and research, personnel policy, finances and day-to-day management. It appoints new professors, establishes new courses or institutes and it promotes specific research. General facilities are also the responsibility of the Board of Directors.

  To the Amsterdam City Archives >> (Only available in Dutch)

• Archive Faculty of Arts and Philosophy

  1880-2002

  To the Amsterdam City Archives >> (Only available in Dutch)

• Archive Faculty of Economics

  1948-2008

  To the Amsterdam City Archives >> (Only available in Dutch)

• Archive Faculty of Law

  1880-2006

  To the Amsterdam City Archives >> (Only available in Dutch)

• Archive Faculty of Social Sciences

  1947-2020

  To the Amsterdam City Archives >> (Only available in Dutch)

• Archive Faculty of Theology

  Archive of the Faculty of Theology of the Vrije Universiteit, with deposited archive of the Institute for Religious Studies and the Dutch section of the Standing Committee for Christians, Jews and Muslims

  The Faculty of Theology was one of the three faculties with which the VU started in Amsterdam in 1880. For the first few years (1880-1883), the lectures were held in the upper room of the Scottish Mission Church. In 1883, the building on Keizersgracht 162 was purchased. This was the main building until 1966, after which the university moved to the new campus in Buitenveldert.

  The overall management of the university was in the hands of the Board of Directors, which appointed the Board of Curators.
  
  The faculty was governed by the joint professors, the Senate. The tasks of the Senate were: to give solicited and unsolicited advice to directors and trustees; to draw up examination regulations and conduct examinations; to adopt internal regulations. The day-to-day management was formed by a faculty board. This board implemented the decisions of Directors and Curators.

  An amendment to the VU regulations (1956) made faculties visible administrative units, which advised directors, curators, senate and government, whenever prescribed or requested. Each faculty, under the approval of trustees, adopted regulations containing rules regarding: the composition of the board and the powers of the executive committee; the preparation of the curriculum; the organisation and duration of study and examination material and the preparation of the faculty's draft budget. Inter-faculty traffic was through the curators.

  The 1972 regulations introduced the democratisation of university governance at the decentralised - faculty - level. The highest governing body became the Faculty Council, in which all sections were represented: academic staff, non-academic staff and students. The faculty council took the main policy decisions. Next to it was a faculty board, which was responsible for education and science. The members of this board were elected by the faculty council. This governance structure remained in place until the Higher Education and Scientific Education (modernisation of university governance) Amendment Act 1998 (MUB), whose aim was to organise the university more business-like. The councils became mainly advisory councils.

  In 1971, the faculties of Theology, Arts and Social Sciences jointly founded the Institute of Religious Studies. This institute organised meetings of a religious scientific nature and published a literature bulletin to make professional literature more accessible. In addition, the institute was the secretary of the Dutch section of the Standing Committee for Christians, Jews and Muslims: a consultative body for theological issues. This department - founded in 1973 - died a silent death around 1980, because there was no longer any interest from the Jewish Dutch community.

  In 1986, the Executive Board decided to dissolve the Institute of Religious Studies; ongoing projects could be completed.

  To the Amsterdam City Archives >> (Only available in Dutch)

• Archive Senate

  To govern the Vrije Universiteit (VU) in Amsterdam, the General Assembly of Members of the Vereeniging voor Hooger Onderwijs op Gereformeerden Grondslag chose the College of Directors. This College in turn appointed the Board of Curators, which was responsible for teaching and research and advised on the nomination of professors to be appointed.

  The joint professors formed the Senate. In the Senate, the curators had an advisory voting seat and they also appointed the Senate president, who was called Rector Magnificus. The Senate set its own regulations, gave solicited and unsolicited advice to directors and curators, drafted examination regulations, was responsible for conducting examinations and reviewed the defence of dissertations.

  In 1932, a Board of Rector and Assessors was formed from the Senate: an executive committee consisting of the Rector Magnificus and two professors. In 1958, the composition of this board changed and it was renamed Senatus Contractus.

  In 1956, the university's regulations were amended, making faculties clearly visible administrative units that advised the directors, curators and senate. This also changed the role of the Senate.

  In 1970, the University Administration Reform Act (WUB) came into force: a thorough reform of university administration. The highest governing body became the University Council, which included academic and support staff as well as students. The Board of Directors and the Board of Curators were replaced by the Executive Board, which acted as the day-to-day administration. As a result of this law, the Senate as such was abolished in 1972 and succeeded by the College of Deans.

  To the Amsterdam City Archives >> (Only available in Dutch)

• Archive VU Association

  Archives of the Society for Christian Science Education (1986-2004), formerly the Society for Scientific Education on Reformed Foundations (1961-1985), formerly the Society for Higher Education on Reformed Foundations (1879-1960)

  Period: 1878 - 2002 (2007)

  The Vereeniging voor Hooger Onderwijs op Gereformeerden Grondslag was founded on 5 December 1878 by a number of prominent inhabitants of Amsterdammer, including Abraham Kuyper and Willem Hovy. On 12 February 1879, the statutes were approved by King Willem III. The aim of the Vereeniging was to found a free university. That is, a university that chose its own principles, free from church and state. For the Vereeniging, these were Reformed principles (1).

  During the period 1880-1972, the central board of the Society was elected at the annual General Assembly. The Board members of the Association were also the members of the Board of Directors of the Free University (2). Its duties included drafting and amending the VU regulations. The College of Directors took care of financial management and appointed professors, trustees and other staff. In addition, the College supervised local and regional departments. In 1965, a Council of Assistance was established. Council members gave solicited and unsolicited advice on the Society's policies. 

  Local and regional boards organised meetings, recruited members and donors and raised money for the Vrije Universiteit.

  In 1932, women from the constituency started the 'VU Plan 1937' to raise money for the establishment of a medical faculty. The campaign grew into the organisation 'Vrouwen VU-hulp'. The women used the green savings box with the effigy of Abraham Kuyper in raising money. 'Vrouwen VU-hulp' peaked in the 1960s of the twentieth century when 11,500 women were affiliated.

  Paying for the university became an increasing burden for the Association. From 1948, the VU slowly received more government subsidy. From 1970, it was set at 100% 

  With the introduction of the University Governance Reform Act (WUB, 1970), both the Association and the university got their own boards. The Association was given an executive board in charge of looking after the Association, establishing chairs and appointing professors. They also appointed some members of the university's Executive Board (3).

  Both the 100% government subsidy and the administrative reform, increased the university's distance from the Association.

  From 1975, a members' council was elected at the annual members' meeting. The members' council elected the Association's board and approved the annual accounts. Furthermore, the members' council acted as the interlocutor with the board on identity, direction and position in society. In 2000, some tasks such as appointing professors and establishing chairs were abolished. The Society still managed funds and legacies. But with the establishment of a Supervisory Board (2001), this responsibility was transferred to it. Appointing members of the Executive Board was now also the responsibility of the Supervisory Board.

  To the Amsterdam City Archives >> (Only available in Dutch)

• Archives on the VU premises on the Keizersgracht

  1772-1781

  To the Amsterdam City Archives >> (Only available in Dutch)

• Available in due course

  • Archive University Council
  • Archives of all faculties and departments