Bust of VU sponsor and brewer Willem Hovy

If you ask people who founded the Vrije Universiteit, you will usually hear the name Abraham Kuyper. Besides being a well-known politician, journalist and preacher, he was also the founder of the VU. Less well known is the man who made the start of the university financially possible: beer brewer and social entrepreneur Willem Hovy. Like Kuyper, he deserves a statue.

Together next to the aula
In 2009, a bronze bust of Hovy was unveiled next to the entrance of the aula in the VU main building. It stands next to the marble bust of Kuyper. The statue of Hovy was made by the artist Frank Letterie (1931) from The Hague.

Patron of the VU
Hovy was a good friend of Kuyper's and was closely involved in the foundation of the Vrije Universiteit. He donated a quarter of the VU's starting capital - 25,000 guilders, and an annual contribution towards professors' salaries. He also became president of the university, but resigned in 1896 after a fierce conflict. Nevertheless, he continued to support the VU financially until his death in 1915.

Socially-minded entrepreneur
Hovy was a successful and socially-minded entrepreneur. He was director of beer brewery De Gekroonde Valk in Amsterdam. He was one of the first to set up a pension fund for his employees, and they continued to receive pay during illness. From 1881 to 1899, he was also a municipal councillor for the Anti-Revolutionary Party. In addition, he was involved in various Christian boards and voluntary organisations.

Taste the beer!
Van Vollenhoven, the original beer of Hovy's brewery De Gekroonde Valk, has been available again at tasting room Poesiat & Kater since 2017.

Highlights from the VU collection