Marcel Levi (Chair of the NWO-I Board of Trustees) and Jeroen Geurts (Rector Magnificus of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) signed a new collaboration agreement between the NWO institute NSCR (Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement) and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam on 4 September 2026. With the signing of this agreement, the long-standing and fruitful collaboration between the two organizations will be continued ánd renewed for the next ten years.
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU) and NSCR, which is located on the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam campus, have been working closely together for many years. Every year, several NSCR PhD candidates obtain their doctorates at VU Amsterdam, NSCR and the VU researchers from various faculties and disciplines actively exchange knowledge and conduct extensive joint research and jointly publish their findings.
Rector Magnificus Jeroen Geurts on the collaboration: “We are pleased that, we as the VU Amsterdam, will continue our valuable collaboration with the NSCR for the next ten years. We are building on a strong foundation and creating new opportunities for innovative research and young academic talent. This is particularly valuable at a time when complex societal issues call for cross-disciplinary collaboration.”
NSCR interim director Peter van der Laan: “NSCR has felt very welcome at VU for more than 15 years. The collaboration between NSCR and VU researchers has deepened and dozens of NSCR PhD candidates have obtained their doctorates at the VU. It is wonderful that this can continue for the next ten years.”
The agreement introduces a PhD Fund. This will enable the creation of new joint PhD positions for multidisciplinary research.
The Amsterdam Law and Behaviour Institute (A-LAB) will continue as a network organization comprising VU faculties and the NSCR, with the goal of stimulating and strengthening interdisciplinary research. The A-LAB Network has a research budget for joint activities and research.
The collaboration between VU Amsterdam and the NSCR has demonstrated for many years how research on crime is strengthened by connecting knowledge, talent and expertise. Over the past ten years, this has led to lasting scientific impact and a strong interdisciplinary network. Given that success, I am pleased that the NSCR and the VU Amsterdam are now continuing this collaboration and further strengthening it with new initiatives.”