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VU Narrowcasting
Last updated on 9 September 2026

The VU Narrowcasting network allows you to reach students, staff and visitors at the VU campus with a message on monitors, a beamer, the coffee machines or toilet posters.

At VU Amsterdam, we have several platforms to display your message: (landscape and portrait) screens, coffee machine displays, a beamer, a LED bar and posters in the washrooms. Depending on the message and budget, we can help you choose the most suitable means. Specific delivery specifications apply for the different platforms. 

Fill your own templates

The VU Brand Portal contains templates for the screens, toilet posters and coffee machines that you can fill yourself: brandportal.vu.nl. When you log in for the first time, you will need access. You request this by sending an e-mail to brandportal@vu.nl. In doing so, indicate that you want to fill templates. All supplied texts and images must comply with the VU house style and guidelines. For a detailed explanation, see the “Getting started yourself” tab on this page.

Target group

VU Narrowcasting is meant for a wide audience. Consider whether the message is intended for a broad target group of staff and students. Narrowcasting is generally less suitable for an audience of less than 1000 people. Narrowcating is not used to promote courses offered by the various programmes. 

Need advice?

For advice on deployment of VU narrowcasting (or any other communication tool) and the strength of the message, please contact Communication & Marketing. Reach us at narrowcasting@vu.nl.

Displays on coffee machines

  • When to choose monitors or projections?

    Screens

    Portrait and landscape screens spread across the campus 

    • Free of charge and low-threshold. The message is displayed for a maximum of 3 weeks. 
    • Suitable for short messages. The screens are quickly viewed in passing; therefore choose little text and appealing images. Use a QR code or a shortened url where more information can be found. Maximum 1 slide per application or a second slide in English. 
    • Target audience: students and/or employees. 
    • There are also 2 'portrait' screens - in addition to the landscape screens - in the Main Building. Here we mainly display messages for the target group of students.

    Beamer and screen in central hall of the Main building (A-spot and B-spot) 

    Projection on the ground in the central foyer (B-spot) and horizontal screen in the central foyer(A-spot) 

    • The A-spot and B-spot can be reserved to showcase content while standing on the designated spot. Ideal for activities such as promoting events, selling tickets or hosting specific engagements. 
    • The screen (A-spot) shows the regular VU-narrowcasting images (News ticker), but can interrupt the playlist with your own images or video. 
    • Physical spot (separate from narrowcasting) can be reserved at FCO Service desk (frontoffice.fco@vu.nl). Narrowcasting on A-spot or B-spot can be requested free of charge via the Audiovisual Centre (AVC). 

    LED bar 

    Screen above white counter in central hall of the Main building.

    • Under certain circumstances (e.g. if you are organising a conference), a specific text message can be displayed here.  
    • If you would like to use the LED bar, please contact FCO Service desk at: frontoffice.fco@vu.nl

  • Submission guidelines

    The screens are updated weekly.

    When submitting content, please indicate how long you would like it to be displayed (no more than 3 weeks). It is also possible to display certain kinds of content for a longer period, for instance as part of a campaign. In this case we recommend that you change the image and text regularly. Get in touch with us as at narrowcasting@vu.nl to discuss the possibilities.

  • Getting started yourself

    The VU Brand Portal contains templates that you can fill yourself: brandportal.vu.nl. When you log in for the first time, you will need access. You request this by sending an e-mail to brandportal@vu.nl. Please indicate that you want to fill templates.

    After logging in, choose ‘Create -> Narrowcasting’. Choose the templates with the name ‘Narrowcasting ...’. Preferably use the landscape templates because all VU buildings have landscape screens and we only have 2 portrait screens (in the Main Building). Complete the template and download it. Then send it to narrowcasting@vu.nl. Indicate the period for which you want to place it (max. 3 weeks). 

    When filling in the templates, please remember the following content:

    • Title
    • Date, time, location
    • Very concise content and/or target group (e.g. if it is only intended for 1st-year students) (note: if you make the text too long, the title will be lost)
    • Mapping (*) and/or QR code to a page on vu.nl with more information
    • In the brand portal, you can choose an image using a search term, or add your own image in ‘My media’
    • At VU Amsterdam we basically communicate bilingually, so make 2 slides (Dutch and English)

    If you cannot fill a template yourself, please send an e-mail to narrowcasting@vu.nl. We will be happy to help you. Read under ‘delivery specifications’ what we need to make a slide.

    (*): You can request a mapping (shortened url, e.g. vu.nl/narrowcasting) via this page.

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Submission guidelines

Content can be submitted to narrowcasting@vu.nl.

The content of the publication is in line with VU Amsterdam's house rules, objectives and principles

The content of the publication is not competitive with VU educational programmes, does not have a religious earmark without an invitation for debate or open dialogue, is not politically or commercially grounded, is ethically sound and is not discriminatory

For the horizontal screens

  • VU Amsterdam announcements (including from VU partners), addressed to students, staff and visitors.
  • Texts should be as short as possible (title max. 45 characters, message max. 150 characters).
  • Possibly a short URL or QR code to a website (max. 35 characters).
  • An image of 1920x1080 pixels (16x9, landscape). Note that the image will be partly covered by a text box on either the left or right half of the screen, so make sure the subject is visible in one half. The image should comply with VU Amsterdam’s image guidelines.
  • A maximum of two slides per message: for example, one slide in English and one in Dutch.
  • Once you have submitted your content, we will enter it into the correct template.

For the vertical screens (only for students/events)

  • Messages to and from students. There are no rules for the layout and design. Submit the final slide, including layout.
  • A vertical image of 1080x1920 pixels (9x16, portrait).
    The text must be included in this image. Make sure the publication is in accordance with our guidelines, as described above.
  • A maximum of two slides per message: for example, one slide in English and one in Dutch.

For the projector

  • Projector slots must be booked with FCO Service Desk through frontoffice.fco@vu.nl.
  • One or several images of 1024 x 768 pixels (4x3).
  • There are no rules for the layout and design, except for official university communications, which must be consistent with VU Amsterdam’s corporate identity (see guidelines for horizontal screens).

  • Image guidelines
    • Keep the general VU house style and guidelines in mind, as described above.
    • Realistic, documentary-style photography. Images may show people in a setting appropriate to the story you want to tell. More information at the VU Brandportal
    • Images must be in the public domain. If you want to use copyrighted images, you must be able to submit proof that you have the right to use them.
    • The VU Narrowcasting team has editorial control over all content that is displayed. We reserve the right to reject images and to shorten and alter texts (by mutual agreement) at our discretion.
    • Use of VU Narrowcasting is free, but it is not a right.
    • Images are shown on either the horizontal or vertical screens, not both.
    • In consultation, a video can be published on the monitors as well.  Send your request to narrowcasting@vu.nl to discuss the options.

  • Screen locations

    Horizontal screens

    The horizontal narrowcasting screens are all located on the ground floor of VU Amsterdam buildings. Screens not listed here are managed by other owners (such as the Green Office or StudentenD0k).

    If you submit content in landscape format, it will automatically be displayed on all horizontal screens. 

    Vertical screens

    • at the main entrance of the Main Building
    • by the group of six lifts in the Main Building

    Projector in the foyer (B-spot)

    If you reserve the B-spot in the foyer, you can have an image or video displayed on the floor. The image or video will be displayed only when there is someone present at B-spot, in 4:3 projector ratio. Deliver your content in time and indicate when someone will be present at the B-spot.

    Screen in the foyer (A-spot)

    This screen normally shows the regular VU Narrowcasting programming, but if you reserve the A-spot you can interrupt the playlist with your own content (images or videos). Content will be displayed in 16:9 widescreen ratio (use landscape template). To avoid screen burn-in, provide moving content. This could be two or more alternating images, or a video. The images or video will be displayed only when there is someone present at the A-spot. Deliver your content in time and indicate when someone will be present at the A-spot.

    LED bar

    Messages can also be displayed on the LED bar above the white counter in the central foyer. This is only possible under certain circumstances (for instance if you are organising a conference). If you would like to use the LED bar, please contact the FCO Service Desk at frontoffice.fco@vu.nl.

  • Screen malfunctions

    Do you see a screen that is not working properly? For all technical questions and to report malfunctions or defects, you can contact the Audiovisual Centre (AVC). This includes all narrowcasting, including the light projections on the windows on both sides of the New University building.

    • Toilet posters

    Publication spots and poster boards

    Read more

    VU Narrowcasting

    narrowcasting@vu.nl

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