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The Netherlands must spend billions of euros on knowledge, innovation and infrastructure, advises former ASML CEO Peter Wennink in a report requested by the outgoing Cabinet in early September.
‘Whereas Europe once played a pioneering role in innovation, this has not been the case for years,’ it states. The report throws around billions. The idea is that additional public spending would also persuade companies to open their wallets. This brings the report’s total to between 151 and 187 billion euros over the next ten years.
Internationalisation
Wennink advocates an ‘active and targeted migration and settlement programme that encourages foreign talent to come to the Netherlands and continue working here.’ This mainly concerns students and knowledge workers in engineering, ICT, energy and biomedical technology.
Further training
There should also be more scope for retraining and further training. In connection with this, Wennink wants to restrict the rights of employees. He believes that social security and labour market policy need to be ‘recalibrated’. ‘Permanent contracts are too rigid, flexible contracts too uncertain.’
Trade unions
Trade unions are sceptical. ‘We recognise the urgency of investment, but the need to reduce regulatory pressure cannot be at the expense of social protection for employees,’ says Nic van Holstein, Chairman of the VCP trade union federation. ‘It is inconceivable that decisions are being made about us without us.’
TU Delft
The Dutch Association of Universities (UNL) embraces the report, as does TU Delft Rector Magnificus Tim van der Hagen. ‘For the future, we now have a great need for stable funding for our education, research and the valorisation of our knowledge,’ he says in a press release.
HOP, Bas Belleman
An additional €165 million is needed annually to keep the Dutch digital infrastructure for research up to date. This is according to research funder NWO and ICT cooperative SURF. If this does not happen, Dutch science will quickly fall behind.
Over the past ten years, the computing power of Dutch supercomputers and digital networks has lagged far behind that of other countries. In a European supercomputing ranking, the Netherlands dropped from seventh to twentieth place.
Relocating to other countries
Researchers who are increasingly working with large data sets are therefore having to turn to countries such as Finland and France, according to an inventory (Dutch PDF) by NWO and the ICT cooperative of Dutch education and research.
‘Without a digital foundation, our knowledge economy is in jeopardy,’ they write. ‘Digital infrastructures are often invisible, but absolutely indispensable.’
According to the organisations, the additional €165 million is needed for national and local computing facilities, data storage and network infrastructure, digital security and connections to European computing and AI facilities, among other things. (HOP/HC)
TU Delft student Alihan Uzun is one of the winners of the ECHO Awards, which were presented in The Hague on Wednesday 10 December.
Uzun, who is studying for a master’s degree in complex systems engineering and management (TPM), received the award in the new category “Current Affairs”. This category focuses on “the most important social developments of the coming years”.
The jury appreciates how Alihan approaches complex themes with accessibility, nuance and empathy. ‘He unites communities instead of dividing them, and creates space for conversations that are often lost in social polarisation.’ According to the jury, Alihan demonstrates what a contemporary, inclusive interpretation of citizenship looks like: conscious, connecting and with an eye for the diversity of experiences in society.
Second year in a row
This is the second year in a row that a TU Delft student has won an ECHO Award. Last year, Pravesha Ramsundersingh (TPM) received the Science and Technology Award for organising a conference on social safety.
Only one in three students obtains a bachelor’s degree within three years. According to research conducted by ResearchNed on behalf of student organisation ISO, health issues and part-time jobs are the main reasons why many students take longer to complete their studies.
Of the more than 7,500 students surveyed, 22 percent cited health issues as the reason for their delay, while 19 percent indicated that a part-time job played a role. Lack of motivation was also a common reason, while reasons such as “enjoying student life for too long” or “choosing the wrong study programme” were mentioned less frequently.
Sometimes students consciously choose to delay their studies, for example when they become active in a student association. Other students apparently made a conscious decision to pursue a difficult degree programme and accepted that this would cause a delay. This applies to 20 percent of the delayed students who described their studies as “too difficult”.
‘Stop with the pseudo-solutions’
Student organisation ISO feels vindicated by the results. According to chair Sarah Evink, the study confirms that students often have good reasons for taking longer to complete their studies. So it’s not just because students drink too much beer. ‘If politicians think study delays are such a big problem, they should ask students how they can help them. Let’s stop with pseudo-solutions such as sending students away after their first year because they haven’t earned enough credits.’
Politicians want students to complete their studies on time. For example, programmes are allowed to expel first-year students who do not earn enough credits, and the Schoof cabinet considered imposing a fine on students who are more than a year behind schedule, a proposal that was withdrawn after protests.
The ISO wants study advice to no longer be “binding”, so that students can decide for themselves whether to continue with their programme or switch. In addition, the ISO advocates a higher basic grant, so that students spend less time on part-time jobs. (HOP, BB)
Prof. Machiel van Dorst will become the new Dean of the Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment on 1 February 2026. Van Dorst is currently Professor of Environmental Behaviour and Design.
Van Dorst graduated from TU Eindhoven in 1992 with a degree in architecture and environmental psychology. After graduating, he worked for many years as a researcher and designer. In 1997, he joined TU Delft as a researcher at The Ecological City. He has been affiliated with the Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment since 2002, where he has also held various management positions since 2012.
‘A new generation of leadership’
“This makes him the ideal person to lead the change agenda aimed at future-proofing the faculty and creating an organisation ready for a new generation of leadership”, the Executive Board states in a press release. Van Dorst says he is “delighted to be able to actively contribute to ensure the future success of the faculty.”
Van Dorst succeeds Dick van Gameren, who has decided that after almost seven years as dean, he wants to focus entirely on his research and education as a Professor of Dwelling.
TU Delft student Alihan Uzun is in the running for an ECHO Award. On 10 December, these awards will be handed out for the 25th time to students from non-Western backgrounds who are helping to build a fair and inclusive society.
TU Delft has nominated Uzun for a new category, the Current Affairs Award. This award focuses on “the most important social developments of the coming years”. The candidates were assessed in October on their vision, impact and leadership.
Advisor to the Minister of Education
Uzun is pursuing a master’s degree in complex systems engineering and management (TBM). According to ECHO, he is committed to “fair representation of multicultural and Muslim youth in education and society”.
He gives equal opportunity workshops to vocational students, has spoken in the Dutch House of Representatives, has published opinion pieces and has organised interfaith activities. Uzun is an advisor to the Minister of Education, Culture and Science (OCW) on the position of first-generation students. He has also consulted with government officials on Muslim discrimination and equal opportunities and contributed to a motion on this subject that was passed.
- The ECHO Awards will be handed out on 10 December at The Hague University of Applied Sciences in The Hague.
- More information about the other awards and nominees can be found on the website.
Also read this Delta interview with Alihan Uzun:
A light show, a speech by the mayor, live music and street theatre: Tuesday evening, 9 December, will be Lichtjesavond (Light Night) in Delft.
There will be plenty to do at various locations throughout the city between 4.00 PM and 10.00 PM, including live music and street theatre. At 5.00 PM, Mayor Alexander Pechtold will open the event for children on the Market Square. After that, there will be light shows from the Town Hall at 6.30 PM, 7.30 PM, 8.30 PM and 9.30 PM. The 8.30 PM show will have an extra treat: a speech from the mayor.
Leave your car at home; park your bicycle in a permanent parking facility
Lichtjesavond traditionally kicks off Delft Verlicht, which lasts until Sunday 4 January. Delft Verlicht consists of fifty smaller events, including music, theatre and Christmas walks.
Lichtjesavond is free of charge. The organisers expect around 50,000 visitors and advise everyone to leave their cars at home. Car parks fill up early in the evening, warns the municipality.
It is also difficult to park your bicycle in the city centre. For example, you should not park your bicycle at the Town Hall, on Oude Langendijk or Burgwal, as bicycles will be removed from these locations. The organisers refer people to permanent parking facilities on Oude Langendijk, Vesteplein and at Delft Station.
- More information about Lichtjesavond and all other events can be found on the Delft Verlicht website.
For the time being, students living in the DUWO complex on Röntgenweg will not have to pay for parking. Student housing provider DUWO has opened the barrier to the parking lot at the request of the municipality of Delft.
Residents of X-Ray, as the student complex is called, have always been able to park their cars for free in the car park belonging to the building. DUWO wanted to change this as of December 1. Parkers would have to pay an hourly rate or a fixed subscription fee of €60 per month. This did not go down well with many students, especially those who need their cars due to a disability.
Municipality was unaware
However, the new parking policy has now been postponed, according to an email sent by DUWO to students. The municipality of Delft has confirmed to Delta that the barriers will remain open for the time being, although it is not yet known for how long. “The municipality of Delft and DUWO are currently discussing the plans and possibilities for parking at this location. Until they have reached a joint decision, the barrier at this location will remain open,” said a spokesperson.
DUWO did not inform the municipality in advance about the parking plans, the spokesperson said. The municipality did not want to answer other questions, such as whether DUWO is allowed to close off the site with a barrier and whether the introduction of paid parking is permitted, because discussions with the housing association are still ongoing.
From Monday 8 to Sunday 14 December, there will be fewer trains running around Delft due to engineering works by ProRail. Passengers should expect more frequent changes and longer travel times.
Trains will run according to a modified timetable. NS advises passengers to check the NS Travel Planner shortly before departure. ProRail is renewing switches and railway crossing floors around Rotterdam Central Station.
The works will continue until 2 AM on Monday night.
- This is an article from our media partner Omroep Delft.
Students, lecturers, researchers, and other employees of universities and colleges will protest in Amsterdam on December 9 against cuts to higher education. This strike has been called by trade unions. Lecturers will continue to be paid if they strike. Students are allowed to miss classes, but exams will not be rescheduled.
TU Delft has drawn up rules for the strike day. The university wants to give students as much opportunity as possible to participate in the demonstration. Education will continue, but students are not required to attend classes, “except in cases of patient care, compulsory practicals, tests, and education that takes place on that day and is considered compulsory,” the university writes on its intranet. Exams will also continue as usual.
Cancelling classes
The university asks employees to consult with their manager if they wish to participate in the protest. Lecturers may cancel their classes, but must communicate this to their students as soon as possible via Brightspace. Exams will also continue as usual for lecturers. ‘If this means you are unable to participate, please consult with your manager to find a suitable solution,’ the university said.
Most universities adhere to the same rules. They have made agreements about this with the umbrella organisation UNL. The universities continue to pay the wages of strikers, according to a UNL spokesperson. However, it is important that when teachers cancel their classes, “students still receive all the material within the duration of a course,” according to the spokesperson.
The university has drawn up more rules regarding the strike. Read the full intranet message here.
