Deborah Blekkenhorst

Deborah Blekkenhorst (1978) studied journalism in Utrecht and then ended up in radio. For the NOS and later VARA/BNNVARA she worked for various current affairs and sports programs at Radio 1. After a foray as a journalism teacher in Utrecht, she returned to practice. In her free time, she enjoys sports, reading and hiking. 

Articles by Deborah Blekkenhorst

Students overwhelmed by messages: too much noise, too little use
Background

Students overwhelmed by messages: too much noise, too little use

UM seeks to improve student communication, appointing coordinators to bring order to the chaos
UPDATE: Saurus is eliminated after just one race at the prestigious Henley Royal Regatta
News

UPDATE: Saurus is eliminated after just one race at the prestigious Henley Royal Regatta

Maastricht rowers fall a boat’s length short against the Oxford team
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
“I’m afraid of life moving too fast and forgetting to enjoy it”
Interview

“I’m afraid of life moving too fast and forgetting to enjoy it”

Series: Sing, fight, cry, pray, laugh, work and admire
Baking cookies, working overtime and finding sponsors in the hope of raising 10.000 euros
News

Baking cookies, working overtime and finding sponsors in the hope of raising 10.000 euros

Maastricht Knights basketball team raising money for European Universities Games
Judges rarely call femicide by its name
News

Judges rarely call femicide by its name

UM legal researchers argue for a clear definition
Tackling the Limburg hills with determination, a banana and a clear head
Background

Tackling the Limburg hills with determination, a banana and a clear head

UM student to cycle 100 kilometres for charity in Amstel Gold Race Sportive
“You’re a molecule – you need to jump. Put on your trainers”
Science

“You’re a molecule – you need to jump. Put on your trainers”

UM PhD candidate wins science dance contest
“University must terminate lease agreement with Israeli billionaire”
News

“University must terminate lease agreement with Israeli billionaire”

Executive Board: the situation is more complex and not as suggested
“My father liked beer – that’s how I got my name. At least, that’s the story”
Interview

“My father liked beer – that’s how I got my name. At least, that’s the story”

Series: Sing, fight, cry, pray, laugh, work and admire
“If we cannot make ourselves heard, that hurts”
News

“If we cannot make ourselves heard, that hurts”

Law Faculty Council raises issues with appointment procedure of new dean
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'
Classes with an academic twist, poster presentations and lectures to inspire interest in STEM
Background

Classes with an academic twist, poster presentations and lectures to inspire interest in STEM

“Much work to be done” to smooth the transition from school to university
“I miss Limburg. Every time I leave, I feel homesick”
Interview

“I miss Limburg. Every time I leave, I feel homesick”

Series: Sing, fight, cry, pray, laugh, work and admire
UM and Zuyd University of Applied Sciences take first steps towards joint first year
News

UM and Zuyd University of Applied Sciences take first steps towards joint first year

Unique structure of law programmes: “a sign of something much bigger to come”
“I hope it will help others”
Background

“I hope it will help others”

Visually impaired student transforms “far too much” information into comprehensible podcast
What value will a joint student wellbeing centre actually add?
Background

What value will a joint student wellbeing centre actually add?

The administrative integration between UM and MUMC+ in nine questions
Interview

"My parents would support me in anything – except if I decided to take up smoking"

Series: Sing, fight, cry, pray, laugh, work and admire
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
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
“I want to meet someone I can spend the rest of my life with”
Interview

“I want to meet someone I can spend the rest of my life with”

Series: Sing, fight, cry, pray, laugh, work and admire
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
“I felt so rushed, I studied 12 hours a day so I wouldn’t miss anything. After the first course period, I was exhausted”
Background

“I felt so rushed, I studied 12 hours a day so I wouldn’t miss anything. After the first course period, I was exhausted”

Stress, anxiety, fear of failure: UM students, too, struggle with mental health
Changing distribution of seats on Law Faculty Council
News

Changing distribution of seats on Law Faculty Council

Academic staff lose a seat, support and maintenance staff gain a seat
The receipt spike
Background

The receipt spike

Series: Old junk
“We already have tutors who don’t know everything and fall back on generic answers”
News

“We already have tutors who don’t know everything and fall back on generic answers”

Law Faculty Council raises concerns over plans for new lecturers to teach more broadly
Interview

"In Namibia I found myself again"

Series: Sing, fight, cry, pray, laugh, work and admire
The old-school mobile phone
Background

The old-school mobile phone

Series: Old junk
“The bond you have with family is different, more special”
Interview

“The bond you have with family is different, more special”

Series: Sing, fight, cry, pray, laugh, work and admire
Manual for AI use in Law: “Although you can’t possibly cover all bases”
News

Manual for AI use in Law: “Although you can’t possibly cover all bases”

Red, amber, green: what students are or are not allowed to ask a chat bot (or maybe a little)
The pair of underwear
Background

The pair of underwear

Series: Old junk
“I’ve gained a lot of colleagues, which calls for better representation”
News

“I’ve gained a lot of colleagues, which calls for better representation”

Law Faculty Council discusses adding seat for support staff
Not so cool: popular ice baths are not that great for your muscles
Science

Not so cool: popular ice baths are not that great for your muscles

Cold is bad for circulation and muscle recovery, Maastricht research shows
European Law School enrolment drops by nearly 50 percent
News

European Law School enrolment drops by nearly 50 percent

“Students say they’ll come, then change their minds”
The raincoat
Background

The raincoat

Series: Old junk
“I sometimes shed a tear for what I can no longer do, but I’m grateful for what I still can”
Interview

“I sometimes shed a tear for what I can no longer do, but I’m grateful for what I still can”

Series: Sing, fight, cry, pray, laugh, work and admire
Science

"Anyone can watch tv to recover from work, but it's better to knit"

Psychologist and UM alum wins award for thesis on creativity and job satisfaction
“It’s taken blood, sweat and tears – but it feels like a fairytale come true”
Background

“It’s taken blood, sweat and tears – but it feels like a fairytale come true”

UM coach leads North-Holland women’s handball team VZV to first national title
“In ten years, I’ll look in the mirror and see a strong, smart Black woman and outstanding scientist”
Interview

“In ten years, I’ll look in the mirror and see a strong, smart Black woman and outstanding scientist”

Series: Sing, fight, cry, pray, laugh, work and admire
Science

"Every patient, man or woman, is pushed through the same funnel”

Medical treatments are still primarily tailored to men
Not cycling in a waterproof raincoat to lose weight
Background

Not cycling in a waterproof raincoat to lose weight

Criticised category lightweight rowing disappearing, but not (yet) for student rowing association Saurus
Interview

"Should I go straight into a master’s, or go all in on football?”

Series: Sing, fight, cry, pray, laugh, work and admire
From timid mouse to shining star: meet Miss Universe Limburg
Background

From timid mouse to shining star: meet Miss Universe Limburg

UM PhD candidate crowned beauty pageant winner
“My student adviser said, ‘I’m not going to flog a dead horse’”
Interview

“My student adviser said, ‘I’m not going to flog a dead horse’”

Series: Sing, fight, cry, pray, laugh, work and admire
“For every disappearance, the immediate question is, how are you going to tackle this? There are opportunities there”
Science

“For every disappearance, the immediate question is, how are you going to tackle this? There are opportunities there”

Faculty of Law and Amber Alert Europe join forces in the fight against missing persons
“So much research that is just gathering dust on a shelf”
Science

“So much research that is just gathering dust on a shelf”

PhD researchers share evidence-based health tips
“I didn’t expect it, but I was hoping for it. It’s amazing”
Background

“I didn’t expect it, but I was hoping for it. It’s amazing”

SBE student Thom Vogel wins snowboarding silver at “student Olympics”
Interview

"I don't look to the future, nor do I look back. I live in the moment and I’m happy where I am"

Series: Sing, fight, cry, pray, laugh, work and admire
“I’m not enjoying it all that much at the moment, but enough to carry on”
Background

“I’m not enjoying it all that much at the moment, but enough to carry on”

Series: 100 days at UM – how are the first-years doing?
“They listened to us on some things, which is good, but a lot is still unclear”
News

“They listened to us on some things, which is good, but a lot is still unclear”

President Letschert on education cuts deal which spares contracting regions
“It’s busy and hectic, but also the best thing that could’ve happened to me”
Background

“It’s busy and hectic, but also the best thing that could’ve happened to me”

Series: 100 days at UM – how are the first-years doing?
Limburg businesses and province also worried about planned cuts to education
News

Limburg businesses and province also worried about planned cuts to education

Letter to Minister Bruins of Education: ensure solutions are tailored to suit the region
Student household budgets: from a free room in the attic to working hard for a beer
Background

Student household budgets: from a free room in the attic to working hard for a beer

Observant takes a look at the finances of three generations: 1986, 2003, 2024
“I hope to have completed fashion school by the time I retire”
Interview

“I hope to have completed fashion school by the time I retire”

Sing, fight, cry, pray, laugh, work and admire
Natural or unnatural death? “The question should be, ‘Why did this person die?’”
Science

Natural or unnatural death? “The question should be, ‘Why did this person die?’”

The Dutch system of postmortem investigation has serious flaws, says forensic physician and PhD graduate
“A disability doesn’t mean people are stupid, but we do treat them that way”
Background

“A disability doesn’t mean people are stupid, but we do treat them that way”

UM staff attend workshop to experience what it’s like to be deaf
“You want to feel like you belong, smoking is a social thing”
Achtergrond

“You want to feel like you belong, smoking is a social thing”

UM students are not yet planning to give up their cigarettes for Stoptober.
Randwyck is buzzing: successful bee hotspot sets trend for more biodiversity at UM
Wetenschap

Randwyck is buzzing: successful bee hotspot sets trend for more biodiversity at UM

Focus on more green space and livability on university grounds
“The university was the salvation of these historic buildings in the city”
Background

“The university was the salvation of these historic buildings in the city”

UM to open its doors on Open Monument Day
Fresh air, fresh mind: “Focus on what works, not what feels good”
Science

Fresh air, fresh mind: “Focus on what works, not what feels good”

A good workplace also requires plenty of fresh air
PAS festival returns: “If it feels like coming home, it’s a success!”
Background

PAS festival returns: “If it feels like coming home, it’s a success!”

The free event featuring lectures, music, theater and expostiions is gearing up for ninth edition
Maastricht at number one
Interview

Maastricht at number one

Portrait participants INKOM: Anna and Nosipho from Germany
Just diving in
Interview

Just diving in

Portrait participant INKOM: Ivo van der Grinten from the Netherlands