Social activities

• Mini golf and laser tag – 6 September

  Want to have some fun on Sunday and meet some new people? Join our Mini golf and laser tag event at Aloha!

  Mini golf and laser tag will take place at Aloha, Amsterdam. You can find all information and the registration form on our Insta or join our Whatsapp group! If you don't have Insta, you can sign up here. For other questions, you can send us an email at 3D@vu.nl.

  Practical information

  • Date & time: Sunday, 6 September 2026 from 15:00 (you can come later if you want and you decide when you want to leave :-)
  • Location: Aloha, Amsterdam
  • Audience: VU students
  • Language: English and Dutch
  • For costs, keep an eye on our WhatsApp group and insta
  • Insta
  • WhatsApp group
  • Sign up here if you don't have Insta
  • For further questions, you can send an email to 3D@vu.nl.

• Book Club: Steppenwolf #1 – 8 September

  According to Hermann Hesse himself, Steppenwolf is the most misunderstood of all his books. In writing the book, the Nobel Prize winning author not only composed one of the greatest pieces of modernist writing; he also shares an account of a personal, existential crisis. Almost 100 years old, and influential still, it’s a ‘classic’ by all means.

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

  About the book and its author 

  German-Swiss author Hermann Hesse (1877 – 1962) was well-read during his lifetime in German speaking countries; but his interest in Asian religions, spirituality and psychoanalysis made that he resonated particularly well with a new young generation in the 1960s in the Global North. Many of his books centre an individual’s search for authenticity, self-knowledge and spirituality.  

  Steppenwolf (1927) is no exception, although compared to his other work, it might be especially personal — if not autobiographical. Written in the period of a three-year marriage with Ruth Wenger in which he found himself driven into isolation and living an increasingly recluse life, Steppenwolf is a compelling account of modernity, alienation and a possibility of transcendence and healing. 

  Practicalities 

  • We’ve picked the Penguin Modern Classics edition of 2012 as a reference point (ISBN 9780141192093), so page numbers refer to that edition. 
  • Each session, we’ll be discussing about a third of the book. During the first session, that’s pages 1 till 70; during the second, pages 71 till 159 (before the asterisk, after “… mentioned in the Steppenwolf tract.”); and during the third from page 159 till 240 (so we include the author’s postscript). Make sure to read these pages beforehand. 
  • This book club season consists of three biweekly sessions on Tuesdays 8 and 22 September and 6 October; 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 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

  • Date: Tuesday, 8 September 2026 - start: 6:15 p.m., end: 7:45 p.m.
  • Prepare: pp. 1 – 70 (Penguin Modern Classics, 2012)
  • Language: English
  • Location: Library Lounge (HG-01A01)
  • No need to sign up! 

• Karaoke and jamming session – 8 September

  Join our Karaoke and jamming session and enjoy (or perform!) music, poetry, stand-up, dance, karaoke, and more!

  You can find all information and the registration form on our Insta or join our Whatsapp group! If you don't have Insta, you can sign up here. For other questions, you can send us an email at 3D@vu.nl.

  Practical information

  • Date & time: Tuesday, 8 September 2025 from 19:00 (you can come later if you want and you decide when you want to leave :-)
  • Location: 3D room
  • Audience: VU students
  • Language: English and Dutch
  • Insta
  • WhatsApp group
  • Sign up here if you don't have Insta
  • For further questions, you can send an email to 3D@vu.nl.

• Great Minds reading group: Marcus Aurelius (session 2) – 10 September

  Marcus Aurelius is one of the most famous ancient philsophers. Hailed for his meditations and contributions to stoic thought, he remains a pillar for young people interested in learning more about the mind and living in accordance with one's nature. In the following three sessions we will read a selection of the pages of Verissimus; the stoic philosphy of Marcus Aurelius. Be sure to join us for this exciting philosophical graphic novel. 

  To this day stoicism remains a relevant school of thought. It is associated with living a sober life, controlling your reactions, and engaging with the world from a place of logic. And yet, it is so much more. 

  Does stoicism still offer the same answers in today’s age? By examining the biographic graphic novel of one of the most famous stoic philosophers, Marcus Aurelius, we will investigate this type of philosophy.
  
  During this first edition of the Great Minds reading group, we will together determine what we wish to learn from the work of these great thinkers, and how we wish to discuss this together. Are you interested in philosophy, antiquity, or discussing the bigger questions in life. This is where you belong.

  Practical information 

  • Date & time: Thursday, 10 September 2026 16:00 - 17:30 
  • Location: 3D room
  • Audience: VU students
  • Language: English
  • Please sign up here 
  • Organised by NEWConnective.

  
  

• First ART SCIENCE dialogue of Realms of Reality – 10 September

  Join us for the first ART SCIENCE dialogue of Realms of Reality with artists Marcos Kueh and Ritvik Khushu and researchers Amisah Bakuri and Elsbeth Dekker. Miranda van Holland will be moderating. The conversation forms part of a collaboration with 3D and will take place in the gallery.

  In the first dialogue of Realms of Reality we will delve into themes and topics present in the presentation by Kueh and Khushu in the gallery. As such, the conversation will explore the intricacies between religion and colonialism as well as its impact on perceptions of gender and sexuality, and the intertwining of status, cultural norms and economic determinism.

  Marcos Kueh is an artist from Sarawak, Borneo Malaysia, currently living and working in the Netherlands. His practice centres on textiles as a medium for storytelling — drawing from Borneo’s ancestral weaving traditions to explore themes of identity, labour, and globalisation. Kueh holds a Bachelor’s in Graphic and Textile Design from the Royal Academy of Art, The Hague. His works are held in the collections of Museum Voorlinden and the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam. Recent exhibitions include Manifesta 15 in Barcelona, Kunstinstituut Melly in Rotterdam, The Backroom in Kuala Lumpur, and the National Art Gallery Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur.

  Ritvik Khushu is a Kashmiri artist-researcher based between the Netherlands and India. Situated at the intersections of material culture, memory and histories of extraction, his practice explores the ways in which histories and knowledges are carried, displaced and remembered through objects, materials and embodied practices. His work encounters objects, knowledges and materials held within ethno-colonial museum and archival collections as sites of dispossession and memory. Through archival research and fieldwork, he follows their histories across the institutional spaces in which they have been collected and the communities among whom their memories, practices and meanings continue to live.His work focuses on issues of restitution beyond the return of cultural objects, attending to the histories, knowledges, and world-making practices disrupted through their extraction.

  Amisah Bakuri assistant Professor at VU Amsterdam, at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Lived Religion and Society. Her interdisciplinary research explores the intersections of religion, culture, identity, and sexuality. Her current work focuses on the historical legacies of missionary Christianity, colonialism, and slavery, and how they shape the religious identities of descendants of enslaved and colonised communities in the Netherlands. She is also the author of “Religious Sensibilities in Pursuit of Sexual Well-Being: African Diasporic Communities in the Netherlands“, which examines the intersection of religion, sexuality, and well-being within African diasporic communities in the Netherlands. Recently, she published “Healing Beyond Borders: Well-being, Religion, and Migration in Postcolonial Netherlands.” .

  Elsbeth Dekker is a PhD candidate in Legal Theory and Legal History at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. She graduated in Law and Art History. Her research is embedded within the NWO-project ‘Pressing Matter: Ownership, Value and the Question of Colonial Heritage in Museums’ and focuses on museum collections in relation to property structures and practices to redress historical injustices.

  Miranda van Holland was trained as an art historian and anthropologist in Utrecht and Nijmegen. After a career in radio broadcasting and event hosting she returned to the academic world to study religion and media. She now works at the Vrije Universiteit where she runs the dialogue and debate centre called 3D. She coordinates the largest student community program at VU called Life is Better in 3D and is the team lead for NEWConnective, a team of young program makers that offer program and conversation on life’s bigger questions, grief, meditation and interreligious dialogue.

  Admission is free.

  Programme

  • 4.15 PM | Doors open & possibility to view exhibition
  • 4.30 PM | ART SCIENCE dialogue with speakers and audience
  • 5.30 PM | Closing

  Practical information 

  • Date & time: Thursday, 10 September 2026 16:15 - 17:30
  • Location: VU ART SCIENCE gallery
  • Language: English  
  • Organised by VU ART SCIENCE gallery & 3D

• Game night with Boosted Gryffins – 10 September

  It's-a me, Mario! Join for a game night with the Boosted Gryffins!

  From 18:00 we'll be playing all kinds of video games! Feel free to join for however long you want. You can find all information and the registration form on our Insta or join our Whatsapp group! If you don't have Insta, you can sign up here. For other questions, you can send us an email at 3D@vu.nl.

  Practical information

  • Date & time: Thursday, 10 September 2026 from 18:00 (you can come later if you want and you decide when you want to leave :-)
  • Location: 3D room
  • Audience: VU students
  • Language: English and Dutch
  • Insta
  • WhatsApp group
  • Sign up here if you don't have Insta
  • For further questions, you can send an email to 3D@vu.nl.

• Lunch Concert at the Botanical Garden Zuidas – 11 September

  The Dokwerk Saxophone Quartet performs works by Felix Mendelssohn, Claude Debussy, and Ian Wilson, among others.

  This quartet has just won the 2026 Dutch Classical Talent Award. It’s going to be a spectacular performance. Come hear it!

  Admission is free.

  Practical information 

  • Date & time: Friday, 11 September 2026 12:30 - 13:30
  • Location: Botanical Garden Zuidas, Van der Boechorststraat 8, 1081 BT Amsterdam
  • Admission is free.

• Rosh hashanah / Jewish new year – 11 September

  All of us celebrate the new year. Together we mark a transition to something new and often something better. We do this together. Most people celebrate it on the 31st of December when the Gregorian calendar starts anew. Other traditions celebrate the lunar new year. In the Jewish tradition they celebrate Rosh Hashanah.

  And we would love to celebrate it together with the Wereldhuis, Oy Vey, NEWConnective and you. Join us on September 11th for a sweet new year. 

  Rosh Hashanah is the day that the Jewish people celebrate the new year. It also marks the start of the high holidays. Are you curious to find out about this holiday and what traditions are connected to this important day? Come to the glass house at the Wereldhuis to usher in the new year. Together we will dine, get to know each other better, express our wishes for the new year, and with guidance from Lievnath Faber, rabbi in training, learn more about the meaning of this holiday. 

  This celebration is open to all. Whether you’re Jewish, atheist, or believe in something else. The most important thing is that you’re curious and that you’re looking forward to a delicious meal. Oy Vey will teach us more about the holiday, the Wereldhuis will prepare the food, and NEWConnective will facilitate and program the evening. The Wereldhuis is a community centre for undocumented people, and it is located in the middle of the old Jewish neighborhood of Amsterdam. With this event we want to connect the neighboorhood, the centre, and the Jewish community. Welcome and shanah tovah u’metukah: have a good and sweet year.  

  Practical information

  • Date & time:  Friday, 11 September 2026 18:00 - 21:00
  • Location: De Kas, Nieuwe Herengracht 18 (ring the bell for De Diaconie)
  • Audience: VU students
  • Language: Dutch & English
  • Please sign up here.
  • Organised by NEWConnective.

• A Deel de Duif dialogue on truth, conflict and dialogue – 15 September

  Join this conversation on the impact the conflicts in the Middle East and the cruelties in Gaza have on all of us.

  Deel de Duif (Share the Dove) are two young Jewish and two young Muslim who have stood side by side while tensions in the Middle East were rising. Despite their apparent differences, they managed to grow closer and continue conversations all over the Netherlands.

  Boaz and Oumaima from Deel de Duif will share with you how they got to engaged in complex conversations, and how they grew closer despite our differences. Explaining why the conflict in the Middle East affects us so deeply. During this gathering Oumaima and Boaz won’t delve deeply into the conflict itself, but relate to what it does to all us and our communities. Emphasizing the importance of dialogue to counter hardened polarization and come to understanding another person's perspective. In order to do so Deel de Duif provides tips and tools for the application of dialogue in practice like looking for similarities instead of differences and that engaging in dialogue is about trying to understand the other person, even if that is sometimes difficult.

  Participants leave the meeting with ideas that apply to their daily practice. So come join the conversation with Deel de Duif September 15th in 3D.

  Practical information

  • Date & time: Tuesday, 15 September 2026 16:00 - 18:00 
  • Location: 3D
  • Audience: VU students
  • Language: English
  • Please sign up here.
  • Organised by NEWConnective.

• Great Minds reading group: Marcus Aurelius (session 3) – 22 September

  Marcus Aurelius is one of the most famous ancient philsophers. Hailed for his meditations and contributions to stoic thought, he remains a pillar for young people interested in learning more about the mind and living in accordance with one's nature. In the following three sessions we will read a selection of the pages of Verissimus; the stoic philosphy of Marcus Aurelius. Be sure to join us for this exciting philosophical graphic novel. 

  To this day stoicism remains a relevant school of thought. It is associated with living a sober life, controlling your reactions, and engaging with the world from a place of logic. And yet, it is so much more. 

  Does stoicism still offer the same answers in today’s age? By examining the biographic graphic novel of one of the most famous stoic philosophers, Marcus Aurelius, we will investigate this type of philosophy.
  
  During this first edition of the Great Minds reading group, we will together determine what we wish to learn from the work of these great thinkers, and how we wish to discuss this together. Are you interested in philosophy, antiquity, or discussing the bigger questions in life. This is where you belong.  

  Practical information

  • Date & time: Thursday, 22 September 2026 16:00 - 17:30 
  • Location: 3D room
  • Audience: VU students
  • Language: English  
  • Please sign up here 
  • Organised by NEWConnective.

• Public Speaking at Uni #1 General introductory event – 22 September

  Public speaking and arguing; at uni this is expected of you, but this can be quite daunting or downright scary. In this event series we will therefore practice public speaking and arguing in an accessible and playful way. That way you'll walk into your seminars with a bit more confidence.

  Being a student means sinking your teeth into complex material, trying to absorb a lot of new knowledge, and increasingly becoming an expert in your field. However, being a student also means giving presentations and actively participating in seminars. In other words, it not only requires you to know your stuff, but also that you can persuasively present your vision and dare to brainstorm and debate with your fellow students. 
   
  You might be able to prepare a presentation down to the finest detail if needed, but especially in seminars, you will primarily have to rely on your speaking skills. While some students will feel right at home in this environment, by no means everyone is a big fan of public speaking. 
   
  Even so, everyone will have to face it sooner or later, which is why the 3D Dialogue Center VU is organizing an event series to tackle this head-on. In an accessible way, and above all with plenty of room for fun, we will practice public speaking and especially arguing. That way, you will hopefully feel a bit more relaxed sitting down for your lectures. 
   
  In this first event we will primarily practice public speaking in general. In the second event on October 6th, we will explicitly engage with public argumentation. In the third event on October 27th, we will focus on critical listening and posing insightful questions.

  Practical information

  • Date & time: Tuesday, 22 september 2026 16:00 - 17:30 
  • Locaton: 3D 
  • Audience: VU students
  • Language: English
  • Please sign up here.

• Muslim & Studying at the VU: An exchange on current experiences and history – 24 September

  VU Amsterdam is known as a diverse university, particularly in cultural and religious terms. However, little research has been done into the background of this diversity and the experiences of students. 

  Over the past year, the History Department at VU conducted research into the experiences of alumni with an Islamic background who studied at VU between 1980 and 2020. The results of this research will be presented in the evening of September 24th. But before that we step out of the time machine and take the conversation to the present. Therefore, in the afternoon we’re having a conversation with our current students about what it’s like to be a Muslim student at VU. Discussing questions like “Why did you choose to come to the VU? And what were your expectations? What is it like to be a Muslim student at the VU now?” Let’s talk at this relaxed and open gathering which we’ll end with some (halal) food in 3D. Make sure you sign up so we know how much food to get).

  In the evening (19:30) the results of the research will be presented and discussed with an audience of VU-alumni, students and Nadia Bouras (Leiden University) and Lotfi El Hamidi (De Groene Amsterdammer). This will also be happening in the 3D room. The evening program starts at 19:30, with a halal reception afterwards. You can off course visit both or just one of the gatherings. But you do need to register for the evening event before September 14th.

  Practical information

  • Date & time: Thursday, 24 september 2026 16:00 - 18:00 
  • Locaton: 3D 
  • Audience: VU students
  • Language: English
  • Please sign up here.

• Opening of the Exhibition "Studying with a Disability" – 28 September

  On September 28, Rector Magnificus Jeroen Geurts will open the VU photo exhibition “Studying with a Disability.” This exhibition, held on the beautiful campus plaza, features powerful portraits and personal stories of VU students with disabilities, such as chronic conditions, mental health challenges, or other support needs.

  What is it like to study with a chronic condition, mental health vulnerability, or other support needs? What challenges do you face, what helps you move forward, and what does it take to fully participate in education and student life?

  Starting Monday, September 28, nine VU students will share their personal answers to these questions in the new photo exhibition “Studying with a Disability” on Campusplein. Rector Magnificus Jeroen Geurts will open the exhibition that day.

  Personal stories that spark conversation

  Through portraits and personal stories, the students share the obstacles they face during their studies, as well as their resilience, ambitions, and perseverance. Their stories highlight that, for many students, the need for support is part of daily life, without defining who they are or what they can achieve.

  “I have a disability, but I am not my disability.”

  With this exhibition, VU Amsterdam aims to foster greater understanding, recognition, and awareness. The personal stories invite us to reflect on the diversity of student experiences and show how appropriate support can contribute to equal opportunities and academic success. Accessible and inclusive education is something for which we all share responsibility.

  Come to the opening

  Students, faculty, staff, and visitors are warmly welcome to the festive opening on Monday, September 28. Visit the exhibition, read the stories behind the portraits, and join the conversation about accessible and inclusive education. (A brief description of the program can be added here, such as a welcome address, a guided tour, or a meet-and-greet with some of the students featured in the portraits.)

  Practical Information

  • Opening: Monday, 28 September 12:00 - 13:00
  • Location: Campusplein
  • Open: September 28 through January 1

  The exhibition is an initiative of the Student Development Department (SOZ) at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and was organized by the Studying with a Disability (SMF) team. Through these students’ stories, the VU aims to contribute to a learning environment where every student feels welcome, seen, and supported.

  Want to learn more about the exhibition and its stories? More information will follow shortly!

  Do you have questions about the exhibition, want to request a guided tour, or need support with internal outreach, communication, or promotion? Please contact the Studying with a Disability (SMF) team.

Sports & wellbeing

• Yoga – 8 september

  Release some stress in-between classes with our Life is Better in 3D yoga class!

  You can find all information and the registration form on our Insta or join our Whatsapp group! If you don't have Insta, you can sign up here. For other questions, you can send us an email at 3D@vu.nl.

  Practical information

  • Date & time: Tuesday, 8 September 2025 from 13:30 (you can come later if you want and you decide when you want to leave :-)
  • Location: 3D 
  • Audience: VU students
  • Language: English and Dutch
  • Insta
  • WhatsApp group
  • Sign up here if you don't have Insta
  • For further questions, you can send an email to 3D@vu.nl.

• VU in Motion – every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday

  You’re very welcome to join us for a short, fun exercise break during your working day or study session! All you need to do is wear your everyday clothes!

  Programme

  On Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:30-13:30 p.m., the "VU in Motion - Cart" is on the campus square near the calisthenics park. Anyone can - if only for a minute - take advantage of the cart's athletic content.
  
  Just walk by between work or college and try low-threshold activities such as badminton, speedminton, pickleball, table tennis, bocce ball, spike ball, hula hooping and more.

  Just dress in your normal clothes and guaranteed that you will return to your work or study place with a smile on your face.

  By the way, if you'd like some guidance and/or inspiration on Calisthenics exercises during that hour, that's possible too!

  On Tuesdays and Thursdays, we offer 15 minutes of Qi Gong at 12:30 p.m., at the Calisthenics Park.
  
  Wednesday at 12:15 p.m. it's time for Standing Yoga, the starting point of which remains in the hallway of the RMP.

  Be welcome for a short, nice exercise break in your work or study day! Just in your normal clothes!

  More information on VU in Motion

• Meditation sessions

  Need a break? Come and join our meditation sessions in the VU Stilteruimte (HG 1A-53)!

  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).

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

Training courses

• Three ways to improve your study, module 2: Balance and relaxation – 5 November

  Psychologists reveal: THREE WAYS to improve your study (and personal) life!!!

  You are ready to change (the way you study), but are not sure how to get started. 

  This module is part of three modules offered by the VU student psychological counsellors, we will focus on themes that students regularly tell us they struggle with: procrastination, stress and feeling stuck in a negative spiral. 

  The aim of each module is to give you insights into your own thoughts, feelings, and behaviours - and a set of practical tools that you can use when you hit the books. 

  A series consists of three modules that you can follow consecutively or separately. It is not obligatory to do all three; you sign up for a single module. This makes it more easily accessible, and demand driven. The modules may also be a nice refresher for students who previously met with a student psychological counsellor or completed a training or workshop! 

  In this module it is all about balance. When experiencing problems with procrastination or motivation, but also with stress, it is important to look at how you deal with your own energy distribution. Do you spend too much time on your studies, or too little? How do you recognise the signals your body gives that it is time to pump the brakes? With our help, take the first steps towards achieving a better balance. 

  Other modules in the series

  Working on... understanding your negative spiral: In this module we take a closer look at the negative spiral (also known as a vicious circle) you can get stuck in. This is an exercise from cognitive behavioural therapy which gives insight into the connection between what you think, feel, and do. This approach also gives you tools on how to break the spiral. 

  How to… take action: In this module we work on behaviour. Sometimes you want to change, but where do you start? We spend time on helping you gain an overview, of both your short- and long-term plans. This is about taking action and getting a grip on your day. Useful for everyone: whether you procrastinate, like to socialise, or cannot see the wood for the trees. 

  Dates & registration

  • Thursday, 5 November, 11:00-12:00 hrs, VU campus, sign up
  • Wednesday, 20 January, 11:00-12:00 hrs, VU campus, sign up
  • Thursday, 18 March, 13:00-14:00 hrs, VU campus, sign up
  • Wednesday, 19 May, 10:00-11:00 hrs, VU campus, sign up
  • Monday, 14 June, 11:00-12:00 hrs, VU campus, sign up

  This module is also offered in Dutch look for more information about the entire programme on the page Courses to optimize studying.

  Make sure to sign up in time!

• Tools to unwind, module 1 Quiet Your Mind – 18 November

  Feeling overwhelmed? Is your mind constantly racing? Finding it hard to switch off and recharge?

  What to expect

  You'll practise simple techniques from mindfulness and breathwork to help you relax both your mind and body, and will be also able try gentle movement exercises. 

  Whether these techniques are new to you or you've attended a stress management course or spoken with a student counsellor before, you'll leave each session with practical exercises you can start using straight away You'll learn techniques that you can use at home, on campus or on the go whenever you need them.

  Join what works for you

  Sign up for one module or all three, depending on your schedule and needs. Each session focuses on a different way to help you unwind.

  Looking for support specifically with study stress and study skills? You might also be interested in the module series 'Three ways to improve your study'.

  Module 1 Quiet Your Mind 

  Slow down your racing thoughts and give your mind a break.

  You might recognise this:

  • Your to-do list keeps growing.
  • Your mind won't switch off.
  • You find yourself overthinking, even when you're trying to relax.

  What you'll do

  Practise short breathing and mindfulness exercises that help you pause, clear your mind and regain focus. These simple techniques are easy to use during your study day, whether you're at your desk or taking a short break.

  Dates & registration

  • Wednesday, 18 November, 11:00-12:00 hrs, VU campus, sign up

  Other modules in this series

  • Module 2 Relax Your Body – Wednesday, 25 November, 11:00-12:00, VU campus, sign up
  • Module 3 Focus on what matters – Wednesday, 2 December, 11:00-12:00, VU campus, sign up

  This workshop is also offered in Dutch look for more information about the entire programme on the page Courses to optimize studying.

  Make sure to sign up in time!

• Three ways to improve your study, module 3: Take action – 19 November

  Psychologists reveal: THREE WAYS to improve your study (and personal) life!!!

  You are ready to change (the way you study) but are not sure how to get started. 

  This module is part of three modules offered by the VU student psychological counsellors, we will focus on themes that students regularly tell us they struggle with: procrastination, stress and feeling stuck in a negative spiral. 

  The aim of each module is to give you insights into your own thoughts, feelings, and behaviours - and a set of practical tools that you can use when you hit the books. 

  A series consists of three modules that you can follow consecutively or separately. It is not obligatory to do all three; you sign up for a single module. This makes it more easily accessible, and demand driven. The modules may also be a nice refresher for students who previously met with a student psychological counsellor or completed a training or workshop! 

  In this module we work on behaviour. Sometimes you want to change, but where do you start? We spend time on helping you gain an overview, of both your short- and long-term plans. This is about taking action and getting a grip on your day. Useful for everyone: whether you procrastinate, like to socialise, or cannot see the wood for the trees. 

  Other modules in the series

  Working on... understanding your negative spiral: In this module we take a closer look at the negative spiral (also known as a vicious circle) you can get stuck in. This is an exercise from cognitive behavioural therapy which gives insight into the connection between what you think, feel, and do. This approach also gives you tools on how to break the spiral. 

  Working on... finding your personal balance: This module is all about balance. When experiencing problems with procrastination or motivation, but also with stress, it is important to look at how you deal with your own energy distribution. Do you spend too much time on your studies, or too little? How do you recognise the signals your body gives that it is time to pump the brakes? With our help, take the first steps towards achieving a better balance. 

  Dates & registration

  • Thursday, 19 November, 11:00-12:00, VU campus, sign up
  • Wednesday, 3 February, 11:00-12:00, VU campus, sign up
  • Thursday, 1 April, 13:00-14:00, VU campus, sign up
  • Wednesday, 2 June, 10:00-11:00, VU campus, sign up 
  • Monday, 21 June, 11:00-12:00, VU campus, sign up 

  This module is also offered in Dutch look for more information about the entire programme on the page Courses to optimize studying.

  Make sure to sign up in time!

• Tools to unwind, module 2 Relax Your Body – 25 November

  Feeling overwhelmed? Is your mind constantly racing? Finding it hard to switch off and recharge?

  What to expect

  You'll practise simple techniques from mindfulness and breathwork to help you relax both your mind and body, and will be also able try gentle movement exercises. 

  Whether these techniques are new to you or you've attended a stress management course or spoken with a student counsellor before, you'll leave each session with practical exercises you can start using straight away You'll learn techniques that you can use at home, on campus or on the go whenever you need them.

  Join what works for you

  Sign up for one module or all three, depending on your schedule and needs. Each session focuses on a different way to help you unwind.

  Looking for support specifically with study stress and study skills? You might also be interested in the module series 'Three ways to improve your study'.

  Module 2 Relax Your Body 

  Release physical tension and get out of fight-or-flight mode.

  You might recognise this:

  • Your shoulders feel tense.
  • Your body won't fully relax.
  • You feel like you're carrying stress throughout the day.

  What you'll do

  Stress can keep your body in a constant state of alertness. Through a guided body scan and simple standing yoga exercises, you'll learn techniques to release physical tension and help your body relax again. You'll leave feeling calmer, more relaxed and more aware of the signals your body gives you.

  Dates & registration

  • Wednesday, 25 November, 11:00-12:00 hrs, VU campus, sign up

  Other modules in this series

  • Module 1 Quiet Your Mind - Wednesday, 18 November, 11:00-12:00 hrs, VU campus, sign up
  • Module 3 Focus on what matter - Wednesday, 2 december, 11:00-12:00 hrs, VU campus, sign up

  This workshop is also offered in Dutch look for more information about the entire programme on the page Courses to optimize studying.

  Make sure to sign up in time!

• Work on your fear of failure – 25 November & 2, 9, 16 December

  In this course you will learn to understand your own fear of failure and gain insight in your study-related stress.

  Do you understand the material, but you still fail your exams? Is there so much to do that you can only focus on studying, or that you can do nothing at all? Do you experience so much stress before a deadline that you decide to just leave it? Do you procrastinate, have issues with concentration or motivation because an exam incites so much stress? Or do you put so much of your time and energy into studying that you do not have any fun or rest any more?

  In this training you will learn to understand your own fear of failure and gain insight in your study-related stress. Alongside various exercises and assignments you will learn how to be more in control and break your own vicious circle of anxiety. The goal is to learn to be more relaxed about studying, and about other worries that are in the way of an optimal performance.

  Dates & registration

  The course includes 4 sessions of 1 hour and 45 minutes:

  • Wednesday, 25 November, 2, 9, 16 December (23 December)* 15:00-17:00, VU campus, sign up
  • Friday, 19, 26 February, 5, 12 March (26 March)* 10:00-12:00, VU campus, sign up
  • Monday, 12, 19, 26 April, 10 May (31 May)* 13:00-15:00, VU campus, sign up
  • Wednesday, 9, 16, 23 June, 14 July (*) 13:00-15:00, VU campus, sign up
  • back-up date

  This course is also offered in Dutch look for more information about the entire programme on the page Courses to optimize studying.

  Attention! Not able to attend the first meeting?
  During the first meeting, the foundations for the entire course are set. Due to the substantive theory that is discussed in the first meeting, we have experienced that it is difficult to catch up on that knowledge and practice. As a result, the chance of drop- out is very high. Therefore, we have decided to not allow students to join the course if the first meeting is not attended. Please contact us so that you can be transferred to the next course.

  After the first meeting you could miss a maximum of one session. If you’re going to miss more, please contact us to discuss what’s the best solution.

  Final registration takes place after payment and has been done online.

  Make sure to sign up in time!

  
  

• Tools to unwind, module 3 Focus on what matters - 2 December

  Feeling overwhelmed? Is your mind constantly racing? Finding it hard to switch off and recharge?

  What to expect

  You'll practise simple techniques from mindfulness and breathwork to help you relax both your mind and body, and will be also able try gentle movement exercises. 

  Whether these techniques are new to you or you've attended a stress management course or spoken with a student counsellor before, you'll leave each session with practical exercises you can start using straight away You'll learn techniques that you can use at home, on campus or on the go whenever you need them.

  Join what works for you

  Sign up for one module or all three, depending on your schedule and needs. Each session focuses on a different way to help you unwind.

  Looking for support specifically with study stress and study skills? You might also be interested in the module series 'Three ways to improve your study'.

  Module 3 Focus on what matters

  Learn how to focus on what matters most.

  You might recognise this:

  • You need to study, but your attention keeps drifting.
  • Social media, notifications or random thoughts keep distracting you.
  • You find it hard to stay focused on one task for long.

  What you'll do

  Discover how your brain responds to distractions and pressure. You'll practise simple exercises that help you improve your focus, stay present and give your full attention to one task at a time. You'll also learn how to use your senses to bring your attention back when your mind starts to wander. These techniques can help you stay focused, even during busy or stressful periods.

  Dates & registration

  • Wednesday, 2 december, 11:00-12:00 hrs, VU campus, sign up

  Other modules in this series

  • Module 1 Quiet Your Mind - Wednesday, 18 November, 11:00-12:00 hrs, VU campus, sign up
  • Module 2 Relax Your Body - Wednesday 25 November, 11:00-12:00 hrs, VU campus, sign up

  This workshop is also offered in Dutch look for more information about the entire programme on the page Courses to optimize studying.

  Make sure to sign up in time!

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