The award ceremony will take place during the Dies Natalis on 20 November, which this year focuses on broadening our perspective on a divided world.
The honorary doctorate is being awarded at the recommendation of Frank van Ommeren, Dean of the Faculty of Law at VU Amsterdam. Together with Britta van Beers, Professor of Law, Ethics and Biotechnology, he will act as honorary supervisor. “The honorary doctorate we are awarding to Maxim Februari is an expression of the great esteem in which we, particularly the Faculty of Law, hold him. His sharp, independent, and original voice brings legal, ethical, and societal questions to the attention of a wide audience in a profound way. In particular, his reflections on the significance of the fundamental values of the rule of law for far-reaching technological developments and climate change, as articulated in his book Doe zelf normaal, are closely aligned with the profile of our faculty and the mission of our university.”
Maxim Februari (b. 1963) is a writer, columnist, jurist, and philosopher. His work explores themes such as justice, ethics, and the societal impact of technology. He has received numerous literary awards, including the Multatuli Prize, the Heldringprize, the Frans Kellendonk Prize, and the P.C. Hooft Prize. In the academic year 2020/2021, Februari served as Vrije Schrijver (Writer in Residence) at VU Amsterdam.
Dies Natalis 2025
On Thursday 20 November, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam will celebrate its 145th anniversary. During this academic celebration, the university will reflect on its role in a time when moral, social, and ecological challenges are becoming ever more pressing worldwide. Each year at the Dies, a keynote lecture is delivered and an honorary doctorate conferred upon individuals who have made outstanding contributions to science or society. Political scientist Séverine Autesserre, Professor at Columbia University in the United States and an international expert in conflict resolution and peacebuilding, will deliver this year’s Dies lecture.
Photo: Paul Tolenaar