Wellbeing Calendar

Social activities

• Information booth of Week of the Young Caregiver – 2 June 

  Do you sometimes miss soccer practice to care for your little brother with autism? Or do you spend your free afternoons supporting your sick father or mother? Many young family caregivers recognize this, but their efforts often remain invisible.

  In the Netherlands, one in four children and young people care for a loved one with an illness, disability, mental illness or addiction (SCP, 2022). They help out extra at home, worry and sometimes lack the necessary attention for themselves. A care situation often has more impact than you think. Therefore, from 1-7 June, during the Week of the Young Caregiver, we ask extra attention for their situation.

  'More than you think'
  Many young informal caregivers do not realize that their situation is special - and so are the people around them, such as teachers, sports coaches, friends, neighbours and family members. That's why the national campaign 'More than you think' is so important! With new images and stories, we make people aware of what young family caregivers go through and the impact it has on their lives. The campaign calls on everyone to take action. It can be something small, like asking how someone is doing, or something bigger, like offering a moment of relaxation. Every gesture counts, more than you think.

  What's happening in at VU?
  On Tuesday, June 2, there will be an information booth in the lobby of the main building where students can go for information on what informal caregiving entails and what VU can do for you as a student. In addition, there are fun prizes to be won!

  On Thursday, June 4, there will be an informative session for students and employees. The program includes lectures by a researcher, informal care experts and experts by experience. They will share insights and practical tools to better recognize and support students who care for family members. For more information and registration, visit this event (in Dutch only).

  Want to know what you can do?
  Help out: see, realize and support a young family caregiver.

  Check out WeekvandeJongeMantelzorger.nl (in Dutch only).

• Organic Waste Collection Day – 3 June 

  👀Find the Greench on Campus Square and help him collect organic waste for his worm compost!🪱

  📍Start point: Main Building - corner of restaurant windows
  ⏱️11:30 - 13:30
  🗓️Wednesday, June 3rd
  
  👉Only give him unprocessed and uncooked food!

  See you on campus!💚

  More information on Instagram

• Book Club: The Wild Iris #1 – 4 June

  Louise Glück’s (1943 – 2023) collection of poems ‘The Wild Iris’ is completely out of the ordinary, deeply personal and surprisingly accessible. That cocktail makes it both lauded and popular; as well as a perfect book for our Library Book Club. The movement of poems takes place in a garden in bloom; on the threshold of spring and summer.

  The Library Book Club is everybody’s book club. Fancy a refreshing read, a change of scenery and a nourishing encounter? Come and read The Wild Iris with us! 

  About the book and its author 

  Louise Glück was a poet from the USA. She received many prizes and several honorary doctorates throughout her life; as well as the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2020. Appearing as her sixth collection of poetry, The Wild Iris ended up winning the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry of 1993. It is still one of her most popular and critically acclaimed books. 

  Glück’s poetry is very personal and uses few poetic techniques, such as rhyme or alliteration: her poems have an almost conversational style. Desire and nature are among the prevalent themes in her work. 

  Practicalities 

  • We’ve picked the Carcanet edition of 1996 as a reference point (ISBN 9781857542233), but the Ecco edition of 1992 (ISBN 9780880013345) shouldn’t be all that different. 
  • Each session, we’ll be discussing 18 poems. During the first session, that’s “The Wild Iris” till “Violets”; for the second session it’s “Witchgrass” till “Vespers” (the 4^th poem with that title); and for the last session “Vespers” (5^th) till “The White Lilies”. Make sure to read these poems beforehand. 
  • This book club season consists of three weekly sessions on Thursdays 4, 11 and 18 June; you’re not obliged to participate all sessions. 
  • The location is the Library Lounge, at the entry of the University Library in the Main Building (HG-01A01). 
  • There’s no need to sign up. If you’d like to receive updates and also to vote for books in the future, you can join the group chat (WhatsApp). 

  Schedule 

  • 5:30 p.m. walk-in: you’re welcome to come in early, to bridge time or to bring and have dinner. 
  • 6:15 p.m. opening: we kick off with a round of introductions, and a brief introduction of the book. 
  • 6:25 p.m. group discussion: we share our experience and findings reading the book so far. 
  • 7:25 p.m. summarising: we look ahead to the next session and summarise today’s session. 
  • 7:45 p.m. end or socialising: we end the session, although you’re welcome to stick around until the building closes. 

  About the Library Book Club 

  The Library Book Club is for anyone roaming VU’s campus. We read a few books each year, and try to throw something new into the mix each time; passing fiction and non-fiction, poetry and prose, short stories and longer ones along the way. Our librarians select three candidates for a season and you get to vote. If you’d like to engage with this group more often, the easiest way to get involved is through the group chat (WhatsApp). 

  Practical information

  • Dates & time: Thursday, 4, 11, & 18 June 2026 18:15 - 19:45
  • Location: Library Lounge, at the entry of the University Library in the Main Building (HG-01A01). 
  • Language: English / Dutch
  • Organised by VU Universiteitsbibliotheek.

• Open listening session on social safety at VU – 8 June

  Do you have experiences, concerns, observations or ideas about social safety on campus? If so, we invite you to an open listening session where you can share your experience as a student.

  During this session, independent facilitators listen to what students experience around social safety at VU. The goal is to better understand what is going on and how policies, supports and procedures can improve. This is not a debate, but a safe space to share perspectives or just listen.

  What you share is processed anonymously. Conversations are not recorded; only handwritten notes are taken to carefully include general themes and insights. You decide if and what you want to share.

  • Small group (5-12 students)
  • Duration: approximately 1.5 hours
  • Present: participants, facilitators and a listener from the Social Safety team
  • Free pizza and snacks

  Afterwards, insights from all sessions will be compiled and fed back to students so that follow-up steps better reflect what is actually happening on campus.

  While there is room for exchange, this is not a place for personal casuistry; students can contact the student confidential advisors for that.

  Want to participate in the listening session? Sign up!

  Would you like to learn more about the steps VU Amsterdam is taking to strengthen social safety? Then also read the earlier updates on the approach and progress.

  Practical information

  • Date & time: Monday, 8 June 2026 15:00 - 17:00
  • Location: Global Room, HG-1A36
  • Audience: VU students
  • Language: English / Dutch
  • Organised by Social Safety Team
  • Please sign up here!

• Déjà VU Festival – 11 June

  On Thursday, the 11th of June, you are welcome back to the VU Campus for the annual summer festival for the entire VU community.

  We look forward to start summer together with our students, alumni, staff and members of VUvereniging!

  Dance and sing along with the DJs and live music, explore the festival market, enjoy inspiring Brain Bites, take part in the UB escape room, and enjoy the food and drinks from the food trucks. You are warmly welcome from 15:30 to 23:00.

  View the programme and reserve your ticket!

• Open stage – 26 June

  You can once again join 3D for Open Stage evenings organized by students from the Bachelor's in Creative Writing and Master's in Literary Studies.

  An evening to enjoy each other's readings. And an opportunity to present something yourself, such as a short story, poetry, a column, or a song. It all comes down to your own creativity. You have complete freedom to try something out, alone or with others.

  Would you like to present something? Send a message to Naomi at n.a.bak@student.vu.nl or +31 6 3092 9237. Please keep your presentation to a maximum of ten minutes. And of course, you must show up. But even if you don't want to present anything and just want to listen, you're more than welcome.

  The evening starts at 7:00 p.m. There's an opportunity to eat together beforehand in the VU canteen (around 6:00 p.m). You can grab something there, or bring your own food and heat it up.

  Practical information

  • Date & time: Friday, 26 June 2026 19:00 – 21:00 
  • Location: debate centre 3D, in the W&N building across the volleyball fields
  • Audience: VU students and staff
  • Language: Mainly Dutch
  • Free event
  • No need to sign up, only let us now if you want to present something by sending an email 
  • For questions you can send an email to Naomi.

Sports & wellbeing

• Beach Week – 1 to 4 June

  Join the volleyball tournament on the VU campus!

  From 1 to 4 June, we’re organising the very first Beach Week. It’ll be a week dedicated to volleyball on the beach volleyball courts on the VU campus.

  Who and when

  • On Monday, 1 June 2026, student teams will compete against each other.
  • On Tuesday, 2 June 2026, it’s the turn of VU staff.
  • On Wednesday, 3 June 2026, it’s the turn of local volleyball clubs.
  • On Thursday, 4 June 2026, we welcome teams from the Zuid-As.

  Where
  The tournament will be held on the beach volleyball courts at the VU Campus (Boelelaan 1105, Amsterdam). Matches are 4-a-side.

  What time
  On all days, matches are from 17:00 – 20:00.

  Cost per team

  • Students: €50
  • VU staff: €75
  • Clubs: €75
  • Teams from the surrounding area (e.g. from the Zuid-As): €100.

  Registration
  Put a team together (maximum 6 people) and register. Registration is per team.

  The registration fee includes a free drink at Bar Boele (minimum 4 participants, maximum 6 participants).
  Subsequent drinks are available at a discount at Bar Boele.

  You can buy a ticket via the Sports Centre’s customer portal until 26 May 2026. If you do not yet have a customer account, you must create one first.

  Prizes
  There are great prizes to be won for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place.

• Mind in Bloom @Hortus Botanicus – 3 June

  Discover how nature can contribute to your wellbeing in the botanical garden Hortus Botanicus: an oasis of calm in bustling Amsterdam. Enjoy a lecture on the influence of nature on your mental health, a mindful walk through the exotic garden and a fresh lunch inspired by nature: all for free.

  During Mental Health Week 2026, the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Hogeschool van de Kunsten and GGD Amsterdam are jointly organizing a mindful morning in Hortus Botanicus.

  Practical information

  • When: Wednesday, June 3  10:00 - 12:00
  • Where: Hortus Botanicus, Plantage Middenlaan 2A, 1018DD Amsterdam
  • What: Lecture by associate professor and researcher Jolanda Maas on the relationship between mental health and nature, a Mindful Ecowalk through the Hortus and to end with a free lunch!
  • Please sign up soon!

• Foundations of Mindfulness – 10 & 17 June

  Research shows that mindfulness helps with almost everything… but in practice it’s not that easy, especially on your own. That’s why this is a guided two-week series, designed to help you truly experience and build up your mindfulness step by step.

  Before each session, you’re welcome to join us for a meal. From 6 pm, we’ll be serving a simple, tasty vegetarian meal. You can take part in a single session or attend both evenings as a complete series.

  Even when everything seems ‘fine’, there can still be a subtle sense of dissatisfaction underneath. It’s like standing on a treadmill: constantly moving, but never really getting anywhere. Avoiding discomfort, chasing little pleasures… and yet something doesn’t quite feel right.

  This session invites you to discover a different perspective.

  This is the first session of a two-part series, with each evening inspired by a different book on mindfulness. The second session will take place on 17 June.

  We’ll start with 'Mindfulness in Plain English' by Bhante Gunaratana. You don’t need to have read the book to take part. Everything will be guided and explained in a simple and practical way.

  The evening consists of:

  • An introduction.
  • A guided meditation (suitable for beginners).
  • Optional reflection and sharing.
  • Time to write or connect with others over a meal.

  It’s not about ‘fixing’ anything, but about experiencing what is already there in a different way.

  Further details about the second session will be provided later.

  Practical information

  • Date & time: Wednesday, 10 & 17 June 2026, 6.00 pm – 9.00 pm
  • Location: HG-12B04, VU Main Building
  • Language: English
  • Please register here
  • Organised by NEWConnective.

• VU in Motion – every Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday

  You are welcome to join us for a short, fun exercise break during your work or study day! Just wear your regular clothes!

  Programme
  On Tuesdays and Thursdays, we offer 15-minute Qi Gong at 12.30 p.m., until October again outside on the campus square, near the new Calisthenics park.
  
  Following this, on those days there is free walk-in Calisthenics until 1.15 p.m., which means an instructor will be present to offer you some no-obligation help and inspiration!

  On Wednesdays at 12.15 p.m., it's time for Standing Yoga, whose starting point remains in the hall of the OZW.

  More information on VU in motion

• Meditation sessions – twice a week

  Need a break? Come and join our meditation sessions in the VU Stilteruimte (HG 1A-53) and in the Mindful Library (HG 12B-02) - we offer sessions two times a week.

  We will provide 20 to 30-minute guided meditations. You can find more information on time and place below. 

  It doesn’t matter if you have a load of meditation experience, or if you are just a beginner. No need to bring anything; mats, cushions and stools are provided. Just wear something that will sit comfortably on your body for 20 to 30 minutes. 

  The meditations occur in the VU Silence Room (HG 1A-53) and sometimes in the Mindful Library (HG 12B-02). You can find this space on the 12^th floor in the library tower. 

  If you want to stay up to date, join our Whatsapp chat for any last-minute updates and changes in the schedule. Here, you can also connect with others who are interested in meditation and mindfulness!

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