50 years of UM

On 11 September 1975, the Dutch House of Representatives unanimously gave the official go-ahead for the Rijksuniversiteit Limburg in Maastricht. We delve into our own Observant archives.

1981-2025: Selling a bike? Looking for a room? Got a message for an ex? Place a Paarltje!
Background

1981-2025: Selling a bike? Looking for a room? Got a message for an ex? Place a Paarltje!

50 years of UM: The Times They Are (Not) A-Changin'
1993–2026: A tragedy: the disappearance of “020 Tanja”
Background

1993–2026: A tragedy: the disappearance of “020 Tanja”

Series: The times they are (not) a-changin'
How a bin in the attic can make the past come to life
Background

How a bin in the attic can make the past come to life

‘Objective’ history of UM captured in anniversary book
1988-2014 Ultimately, the Legal Advice Practice didn’t survive
Background

1988-2014 Ultimately, the Legal Advice Practice didn’t survive

Series: The times they are (not) a-changin
Celebrating 50 years of UM with a karaoke bus and a battle between faculties
Photo reportage

Celebrating 50 years of UM with a karaoke bus and a battle between faculties

Both staff and students could hit the dance floor
2019 – 2020: When a cyber-attack brought the university to a standstill
Background

2019 – 2020: When a cyber-attack brought the university to a standstill

Series: The times they are (not) a-changin'
After years of stop-start policy, things seem to be moving forward
Background

After years of stop-start policy, things seem to be moving forward

50 years of sustainability at UM
2020 – 2022 : “Intelligent lockdown”: everything online, proctoring software and lots of concerns
Background

2020 – 2022 : “Intelligent lockdown”: everything online, proctoring software and lots of concerns

Series: The times they are (not) a-changin'
1971 – 1985: From “a place for everyone” to “elite club”: Maastricht student life takes shape
Background

1971 – 1985: From “a place for everyone” to “elite club”: Maastricht student life takes shape

Series: The times they are (not) a-changin'
1989 – 1994: Stoned at the wheel, at the expense of the US government
Background

1989 – 1994: Stoned at the wheel, at the expense of the US government

Series: The times they are (not) a-changin'
1975-present: Chaplaincy troubles
Background

1975-present: Chaplaincy troubles

Series: The times they are (not) a-changin'
1992-present: From one part-time psychologist “for a quick chat” to comprehensive student wellbeing support
Background

1992-present: From one part-time psychologist “for a quick chat” to comprehensive student wellbeing support

Series: The times they are (not) a-changin'
1999 and 2009: Students Pieter van den Hoogenband and Tom Dumoulin drop out after a few years of struggling
Background

1999 and 2009: Students Pieter van den Hoogenband and Tom Dumoulin drop out after a few years of struggling

Series: The times they are (not) a-changin'
2007-2015: A bit of a cultural wrinkle
Background

2007-2015: A bit of a cultural wrinkle

Series: The times they are (not) a-changin'
1995: Computers take off in higher education
Background

1995: Computers take off in higher education

Series: The times they are (not) a-changin'
2000: Help, Prince Carnaval is a princess!
Background

2000: Help, Prince Carnaval is a princess!

Series: the times they are (not) a-changin’
The King, a festive mood and reverent silence
Photo reportage

The King, a festive mood and reverent silence

Looking back on the 50th Dies
Minor irritation at the Dies Natalis
Submitted letter

Minor irritation at the Dies Natalis

"Who thought it was a good idea to place colleagues out of sight of all the dignitaries present in this beautiful church"
50 years of UM podcast: How 'go-getter' Sjeng Kremers put the university on the map
Podcast

50 years of UM podcast: How 'go-getter' Sjeng Kremers put the university on the map

Former Queen's Commissioner was of vital importance of Maastricht
Dies Natalis ceremony: Festive trumpets and solemn words
Reportage

Dies Natalis ceremony: Festive trumpets and solemn words

Audience moved to silence by Red Cross president’s speech
2006–2011: Attracting the best talent: top 3 per cent of students get their tuition back
Background

2006–2011: Attracting the best talent: top 3 per cent of students get their tuition back

Series: the times they are (not) a-changin’
“Resistance means you’re pushing in the right place”
Interview

“Resistance means you’re pushing in the right place”

Honorary doctorate for climate change litigator Roger Cox:
Students guess: “Let me think, it is a newer university. 75 feels like a good number”
Background

Students guess: “Let me think, it is a newer university. 75 feels like a good number”

Students guess how old UM is and are closer than expected
50 years of UM, 50 years of quarrelling
Background

50 years of UM, 50 years of quarrelling

And whenever there were new budget cuts, all eyes in The Hague turned to that little one in the south
A new visual identity? The logo police are always watching
Background

A new visual identity? The logo police are always watching

Series: the times they are (not) a-changin’
“Biodiversity loss poses enormous risks to our health”
Interview

“Biodiversity loss poses enormous risks to our health”

Honorary doctorate for nephrologist Peter Stenvinkel
Prince Carnaval in a professor’s mask
Background

Prince Carnaval in a professor’s mask

Carnival society De Tempeleers celebrates 50 years of UM
2004: Political turmoil and the demise of UM’s Science Shop
Background

2004: Political turmoil and the demise of UM’s Science Shop

Series: the times they are (not) a-changin’
King Willem-Alexander to visit Maastricht for celebration of university's 50th anniversary
News

King Willem-Alexander to visit Maastricht for celebration of university's 50th anniversary

Dies Natalis on 23 January will feature special guest
2013: The eyes of the world are on the Maastricht burger
Background

2013: The eyes of the world are on the Maastricht burger

Series: the times they are (not) a-changin’
The calculator
Background

The calculator

Series: Old junk
Padlocks
Background

Padlocks

Series: Old Junk
The ashtray
Background

The ashtray

Series: Old Junk
2003-2010: Bye-bye Zwarte Piet
Background

2003-2010: Bye-bye Zwarte Piet

Series: the times they are (not) a-changin’
The receipt spike
Background

The receipt spike

Series: Old junk
2001-2002: UM President Karl Dittrich, the almost mayor of Maastricht
Background

2001-2002: UM President Karl Dittrich, the almost mayor of Maastricht

Series: the times they are (not) a changin’
The Language Collection
Background

The Language Collection

Series: Old junk
2000-2002: Resistance to “elite” UCM programme
Background

2000-2002: Resistance to “elite” UCM programme

Series: the times they are (not) a changin’
The old-school mobile phone
Background

The old-school mobile phone

Series: Old junk
2002-2014: The rocky road of the anti-smoking vaccine comes to a dead end
Background

2002-2014: The rocky road of the anti-smoking vaccine comes to a dead end

Series: the times they are (not) a changin’
English Style Guide
Background

English Style Guide

Series: Old junk
2003: Observant columnist Louis Boon feels pressured by rector to quit
Background

2003: Observant columnist Louis Boon feels pressured by rector to quit

Series: the times they are (not) a changin’
The cycling jersey
Background

The cycling jersey

Series: Old junk
1975-1980: Maffius was not a run-of-the-mill school publication
Background

1975-1980: Maffius was not a run-of-the-mill school publication

Series: the times they are (not) a changin’
Old money
Background

Old money

Series: Old junk
1985 and beyond: Maastricht pulls out all the stops to attract students
Background

1985 and beyond: Maastricht pulls out all the stops to attract students

Series: the times they are (not) a changin’
The pair of underwear
Background

The pair of underwear

Series: Old junk
2009: A runaway bus losing passengers along the way
Background

2009: A runaway bus losing passengers along the way

Series: the times they are (not) a changin’
The brown beast
Background

The brown beast

Series: Old junk
1999 and later: Calatrava’s copper campus never made it past the drawing board
Background

1999 and later: Calatrava’s copper campus never made it past the drawing board

Series: the times they are (not) a changin'
The red rabbit
Background

The red rabbit

Series: Old junk
1996:
Background

1996: "Killed by multiple stab wounds"

Series: the times they are (not) a changin’
Social distancing barrier tape
Background

Social distancing barrier tape

Series: Old Junk
1995: Banalitas fraternity hauled before Executive Board over sexist and homophobic posters
Background

1995: Banalitas fraternity hauled before Executive Board over sexist and homophobic posters

Series: the times they are (not) a changin’
The Rolodex
Background

The Rolodex

Series: Old Junk
1982 and later: The university nursery
Background

1982 and later: The university nursery

Series: the times they are (not) a changin’
The raincoat
Background

The raincoat

Series: Old junk
The wrist rest
Background

The wrist rest

Series: Old junk
The 1993 student hunger strike on Vrijthof: three days on water and cigarettes
Background

The 1993 student hunger strike on Vrijthof: three days on water and cigarettes

Series: the times they are (not) a changin’