The academic heritage items of VU Amsterdam reveal the history of academic education and research in various fields at the Vrije Universiteit. The collections range from the first beadle’s staff, taxidermy specimens and a hydraulic economic model to minerals, fossils and microscopes from the 1970s. Many of the objects are one of a kind.
Using heritage collections for teaching and research
The heritage collections are a rich source of information and inspiration for research, for instance in the context of scientific discoveries. Are you curious about the learning materials that were used to teach VU students in the 1950s? Would you like to research how the robes worn by VU lecturers have changed over the centuries? Or perhaps you want to give a lecture on the construction of the campus? Students, lecturers and researchers are always welcome to use the collections for education and research.
Decorating public spaces with objects from the collections
It is also possible to borrow objects from the heritage collections to decorate (semi-)public spaces in the buildings at VU Amsterdam. These items can be used to spruce up a meeting room, for example.
Proposing heritage items for the collections
If you have an object that you think would be a valuable addition to the VU heritage collections, please let us know!