Text: Shirley Haasnoot | Photos: Peter Valckx, Daisy Komen & Judith van de Vecht
Around 1800 visitors received a wristband at the entrance of the Déjà VU Festival on Thursday, 13 June, at the back of the NU building. The tropical atmosphere of last year was absent, but for the first time in days, the sun was shining, and the VU campus had everything that makes a festival successful: loud music, colourful streamers, recyclable balloons, stalls, and the scent of wet grass.
Towards the music stages, across the festival grounds, runs the wide VUvereniging Avenue. On large cardboard pillars, various projects of the VUvereniging are highlighted, such as 'Dealing with the final phase of life' and 'The power of non-violent protest movements'. However, with the approaching death, the passing festival-goers, more than half of whom are students, do not seem to be concerned at all this evening.
The members of the VUvereniging at the Alumni Square also appear carefree. Here, old friends reunite and wine is served in enormous recyclable cups. Koen van Dijk, a member of the Members' Council, says he is a 'huge fan' of the Déjà VU Festival. As a student of Law and Public Administration, he was the initiator of the first festival in 2019. The newly appointed board member Carmen Cabo speaks about the performance of Professor of Neuropsychology Erik Scherder. With the VU Orchestra, he let Cabo experience how Grieg's music affected her brain. 'The orchestra, the story, it was impressive.'
‘Yesterday, Pieter Omtzigt offered me the Ministry of the Interior’
Alumnus Arie van der Veen (his badge simply states 'Arie') briefly stops by and indulges in the canapés. As a law student in the 1980s, he was editor-in-chief of the law faculty magazine Status Quo, which ceased to exist in 1992. Tonight, a specially made anniversary issue is being presented to the Dean of Law and former editor Frank van Ommeren. 'Yesterday, Pieter Omtzigt offered me the Ministry of the Interior', Arie casually mentions. However, due to the collaboration with the PVV, the former CDA member did not want the position. He predicts: 'This upcoming cabinet will collapse due to fleeting discord.'
At the entrance of the science market, third-year English Language and Culture student Mila Eijskoot invites visitors to her stall to visit the 'Let’s work' exhibition at the VU Art Science Gallery. At the VU Start Hub entrepreneurs' area, a bit further along, alumnus Tobi Makinde, who completed his master's in Human Movement Sciences last year, presents the mechanical glove from his startup Mad Glove. The fabric-made test model is intended to improve the hand function of people with spasticity or other muscle problems. 'One of our users can even play the guitar again,' Makinde proudly explains.
Almost as busy is the nearby field, where young and old members of the VU community are happily hula-hooping
Around 7:00 pm, festival-goers sway to a modest rendition of 'I am sexy and I know it' by the well-known cover band The Tour on the main stage. Almost as busy is the nearby field, where young and old members of the VU community are happily hula-hooping.
In the far corner of the festival grounds, the VU Choir stall stands with posters of Verdi’s Messa da Requiem. Talking here is nearly impossible due to the loud music from the Uilenkatten stage. Nonetheless, Vincent Schriever is in high spirits. He finds the VU choir 'extremely fun'. 'There are few choirs with so many young members'. Schriever, who did a master's in Earth Sciences during the pandemic, joined the bass section immediately when rehearsals resumed in September 2021. 'I've met many people, including my girlfriend Charlotte, with whom I'm moving in next week.'
‘Is this the silent disco?’ hopeful groups of festival-goers ask
At the Science Tent, a solution has been found for the overwhelming music: the attendees wear wireless headphones. 'Is this the silent disco?' hopeful groups of festival-goers ask.
However, it's not music coming through the equipment, but the voice of Professor of Nutrition and Health Jaap Seidell. He explains, 'Sound affects your food choices', and chips are tastiest when they crunch. He soon shifts with colleague Coosje Dijkstra to the importance of a plant-based diet for the survival of the world. 'Drastic measures are needed. And we can't expect anything from our new government.'
‘Balkenende has a very big VU heart’
The lecture programme ends on an optimistic note with a performance by VU alumnus in Law and History, Jan Peter Balkenende. Together with VU Professor of Philosophy Govert Buijs, he discusses their joint book Capitalism Reconnected. 'Balkenende has a very big VU heart', says Margrethe Jonkman, Chair of the Executive Board, who is seated in the front row.
The former Prime Minister speaks very quickly and emerges as an advocate of a strong and united Europe. It was 'wonderful' to write the book with a philosopher, he explains. 'Perhaps the essence of the university is to connect different disciplines.'
'I have to stop at ten to eleven, but if you want, I’ll keep going!'
Outside, about a hundred people dance to the music of DJ Stoffer & Blic, the stage name of VU Earth Sciences alumnus Yusuf Erol. 'I have to stop at ten to eleven, but if you want, I’ll keep going!' Erol exclaims, while many raccoons appear on large screens. Despite his rebellious words, the festival ends at 11:00 pm, and the cleaning crew is ready. The last attendees leave with Erol to an afterparty, as the night has only just begun.
