VU in Motion

The projects

• Movement on the VU Campus

  VU in Motion's offerings on campus

  On Tuesdays and Thursdays, we offer 15-minute Qi Gong at 12.30pm, until October again outside on the campus square, near the new Calisthenics park.
  
  Following this, on those days there is free walk-in Calisthenics until 1.15pm, which means an instructor will be present to offer you some no-obligation help and inspiration!

  Wednesday at 12.15pm it's time for Standing Yoga, whose starting point remains in the hall of the ROW.

  Be welcome for a short, tasty exercise break in your work or study day! Just in your normal clothes!

• Hiking trails

  Theme routes

  The buildings route

  Find out the story behind the VU buildings by walking. Click here for the route.

  The vibrant campus route

  Learn what there is to do on campus. Click here for the route.

  Lunch, bila and meeting routes

  Movement is an essential part of a healthy and effective working and studying day. VU in Motion therefore encourages the VU community to take enough steps per 24-hour period. The routes below leave from Campus Square and return here as well. Ideal for during a study break or walking consultation!

  The office break (20 min)

  A perfect route to walk when you need a break from desk. Click here for the route.

  The meeting walk (45 min)

  Why sit down for every meeting? Rather walk this route!

  Your thoughts in green (+60 min)

  Thinking time also counts as working time. And as the German philosopher Nietzsche said: "All really great thoughts are thought of while walking". So visit the Amsterdamse Bos.

  Also fun

  Besides the VU, there are other walking initiatives in the Zuidas. Check out the following routes, for example:

  Ommetjes Zuidas

  Three themed routes varying in duration from one to two hours.

  Walking route Zuidas

  A three-hour walking route that leads from Amstelpark to the Amsterdamse Bos.

• Take the stairs

  Take the stairs

  Taking the stairs regularly can be a very effective way of interrupting sitting still and introducing appropriate moderate-intensity movement into your work and study day. Moreover, research shows that taking the stairs regularly - both up and down! - strengthens leg muscles, lowers resting heart rate and lowers systolic blood pressure and LDL (bad cholesterol). All very positive effects on health.

  VU in Motion, together with C&M and FCO, is committed to encouraging the VU population to use the stairs more instead of the lift.
  
  Healthy Habits - Take the Stairs

• Beware of the chair

  The risk of disease and death from prolonged sitting is independent of leisure-time exercise. Only daily intensive exercise works preventively, but is not feasible for most. Therefore, it is important to reduce sitting itself.

  Therefore, 'Beware of the chair' and make exercise part of your working day. Do not sit for too long at a time, but alternate regularly with standing or walking, so that at least the upper legs are active, as this reduces the risk of health complaints. Stand up briefly every half hour (or at least every hour for 5 min), then walk through your home, workspace or outside, preferably moving your arms briefly as well.

  Include movement moments in presentations, lectures or meetings to give colleagues or listeners a chance to move for a while.

• Walk to talk

  "I don't see it happening. I see it walking."
  
  Like students, VU employees deserve a separate project to get them to move more in a day. The plan is therefore to bring about a culture change in the workplace through small interventions: instead of standing as the exception, to sitting as the exception. This can be done by doing consultations and meetings (partly) while standing or also interrupting them with a 'Shearer'. And by conducting bilas or annual meetings together while walking. Desks behind which you can also stand can also contribute. VU in Beweging also advocates that exercise during working hours simply counts as work.

  Interested? Also take a look at: Sustainable employability - Make work of yourself.

• VU in Motion Activities

  Activities will be organised in the coming period for everyone to participate.

  26 March: stair walking event

  Did you know that on Mondays and Thursdays at 11:00 am, there is a regular stair walking group active at VU? A short exercise break in the middle of the day.

  To draw attention to this, we are organising a Stair Run event on Thursday 26 March at 11:00. We invite everyone to run with colleagues and fellow students.
  
  Afterwards, coffee and banana bread will be available.
  Start: 11:00am

  Collect: Main building, at the red wall with take the stairs sticker
  Free walk-in (registration not needed)
  

  2 April: Walk during your VU Day

  Thursday 2 April 2026 is the national Walk During Your Work Day. From VU in Beweging, we are of course participating - but in a VU way: Walk During Your VU Day! Will you walk with us?

  Walking is the way to combine health, productivity and fun during your day at the VU. Get away from your screen, get some fresh air, recharge your batteries and catch up with colleagues and fellow students. Because a short walk does wonders for your focus, creativity and mood.

  Programme

  • 12.45 hrs - Gather at the Student Wellbeing Point (SWP)
  • 12.55pm - Start of a walk (max 30 minutes)
  • ±13.25 hrs - Back at the SWP for coffee or tea and a delicious banana sandwich

  Whether you come for the exercise, the fun or the banana bread: you are most welcome. Bring your colleagues and study friends, together is more fun!

  Bonus: we will raffle off a fun individual prize among all participants.

  Register now

  The Walk During Your VU Day is a collaboration between Student Wellbeing, Sustainable Employability (DI) and VU in Motion.
  

  9-16 April: 'VU in Beweging - Kar' intro week

  VU Sports Centre brings movement to you!

  During the intro week for the 'VU in Beweging - Kar', this new addition will be on the campus square and everyone can get acquainted with the sporty content of the cart.
  
  Drop by between work or college and try low-threshold activities like pickleball, bocce ball, spike ball and more - just in your normal clothes.

  Thursday 9 April to 16 April 2026

  • Daily 12:00-13:00
  • Campus square - calisthenics park
  • Free walk-in (no registration required)
  • Guidance present
    

  21 May: Bike to your workday

  By now this has become a tradition, leave the car and then cycle it to work.
  More information to follow.

• Deepening

  VU in Beweging under the spotlight by Kenniscentrum Sport & Bewegen
  Kenniscentrum Sport & Bewegen has looked into VU in Beweging's initiatives to get employees to sit less and move around during work.

  The knowledge centre uses VU in Motion as a practical example for other organisations. Find out how this project was set up and get tips for organising exercise activities for employees.

  Read the entire publication here.

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  The science behind regular exercise
  Lack of physical activity is partly at the root of today's diseases of affluence. In our modern living environment, exercise is not really taken for granted anymore and we need to consciously schedule regular exercise to experience sufficient energy, good mood, focus & concentration and physical fitness.

  Read more about why regular exercise is so incredibly important!