On 20 February 2026, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam hosted a vibrant and enchanting Chinese Spring Festival celebration, welcoming approximately 200 students and staff for an evening dedicated to culture, connection, and community.
The event opened with a warm welcome from Amu Shrestha, Diversity Officer Campus & Community and Reyka Lycklama à Nijeholt, Senior Policy Adviser Internationalization. Amu Shrestha opened with a few words in Mandarin Chinese and extended her best wishes for the Year of the Horse in Chinese, greeting the audience with “新年快乐” (Happy New Year). She highlighted that this celebration is part of the Bridging Success programme, by Diversity Office VU and SOZ. The aim of the programme is to stimulate student engagement and bring people of different background at VU together to foster dialogue and understanding about cultural diversity.
Dean Professor Maurits van Tulder delivered opening remarks, which was followed by an inspiring address from Mr. Wenhua Wang, Counsellor of the Education Section at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Netherlands. In his speech, he emphasized the importance of strengthening collaboration between the Netherlands and China and conveyed his heartfelt New Year wishes for the Year of the Horse.
The celebration featured a diverse lineup of performances that showcased both traditional and contemporary Chinese culture. The program began with a calming and graceful Tai Chi performance by William Antersijn, followed by an elegant QiPao dance by Zoe Tang, highlighting the beauty of traditional attire. Xiaoshuang Yang then moved the audience with a heartfelt Chinese song, after which Liuqing Yang energized the stage with a lively Chinese pop dance. The audience was further captivated by the enchanting sounds of the guzheng, performed by Haixia Liang, a traditional instrument with a history spanning thousands of years. The performances concluded with an interactive Chinese cultural quiz led by the hosts, encouraging the audience to engage, learn, and connect in a fun and meaningful way.
The evening concluded with a delightful Chinese dinner, offering attendees the opportunity to enjoy a festive array of traditional dishes and continue their conversations in a warm and celebratory atmosphere. Special thanks go to Amu Shrestha, Reyka Lycklama à Nijeholt, colleagues from the International Office, SOZ and the dedicated student board members of Change VU, Kompas Studenten, ESN VU, and FAM who are part of this year’s Bridging Success progamme whose invaluable support and commitment made the event a resounding success.
Written by Di Ding