Alumnus of the year
Ninah Tiemersma
“Learning to deal with emotions”
Editorial & content
Spotified
Playlist 8
Varia
Nieuws, tips en interessante links
Alumni Active
Alumni meetings,
public lectures and
other activities
Rector Magnificus
column
“Taking a step forward
in uncertain times”
Alumnus abroad
Maël Hanon in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Leadership and age
Older boss, fewer conflicts?
Alumni in love
The love story of Boudewijn and Githa
Farewell to Big Tech
“We want to determine for ourselves who we collaborate with”
Ain Wondre Stad
Maaike Schoon in the Harmoniegebouw
Comenius
“As a mayor, you never stop learning”
Solar cells
More stable and sustainable
Vikings
More than just fierce seafarers
Fight against PFAS
Cultivating bacteria
that break down
PFAS
Freedom of Information Act (Wet open overheid)
How transparent is
the Netherlands?
ForensifAI
Unmasking fake photos
Photo carousel
Puinhoop (Mess)
UEF Cocost
Sustainable coexistence on the savanna
In retrospect
Economics
“Wisdom begins with wonder,” a free summary of words spoken by Socrates. "Wonder" is a beautiful word. It is the beginning of many things: of questions, of seeking answers, of pursuing knowledge. Science and wonder are also connected in this way. Doesn’t every scientist begin their research with a sense of wonder and a quest for answers?
In this autumn edition of Broerstraat 5, you will again find many stories of researchers seeking answers to the major challenges of our time. What can we do about the ever-growing power of Big Tech, and how can we, as citizens and as a university, increase our digital autonomy? How can we solve the PFAS problem? And how can we combat online photo fraud? Urgent issues that demand powerful answers.
This edition’s Alumnus of the Year,
Ninah Tiemersma, graces the cover. As a teacher of classical languages, she draws inspiration from the Greeks. According to her, the stories of Greek gods are excellent for teaching people to deal with major themes and emotions such as loneliness, shame, beauty, or infidelity. In this way, she tries to enhance the well-being of her students. Alumnus Liset Hamming helps journalists and NGOs submit WOO requests (Wet open overheid – Dutch Freedom of Information Act). After all, the Netherlands does not have the most transparent government in the world.
Wonder does not stand still. It is about continuously questioning your old knowledge and answers. In this issue, you can read about the Vikings' love for poetry, something quite different from the fierce, plundering seafarers they are often portrayed as.
There are also photos from the exhibition Puinhoop (Mess) at the University Museum. A thought-provoking exhibition about the 1980s—a time we now look back on with nostalgia, but which may not be all that different from the present when you consider the struggles we faced then and now.
In this way, humanity always perseveres, searching for happiness, love, wisdom, beauty, and meaning. With this beautiful magazine, we hope to make a small contribution to that quest. Enjoy reading!
Editorial
Editorial
Broerstraat 5 – Autumn 2026
Alumni Active
Alumni meetings, public lectures and other activities
Alumni Active
Fight against PFAS
Cultivating bacteria that break down PFAS
Photo carousel
Puinhoop (Mess)
In retrospect
Economics
Comenius
Ben Visser: "As a mayor, you never stop learning"
Solar cells
More stable and sustainable
ForensifAI
Unmasking fake photos
UEF Cocost
Sustainable coexistence on the savanna
Ain Wondre Stad
Maaike Schoon in the Harmoniegebouw
Vikings
More than just fierce seafarers
Varia
Varia
News, tips and interesting links
Farewell to Big Tech
“We want to determine for ourselves who we collaborate with”
Alumni in love
The love story of Boudewijn and Githa
Spotified
Playlist 8
Spotified
Freedom of Information Act (Wet open overheid)
How transparent is the Netherlands?
Leadership and age
Older boss, fewer conflicts?
Alumnus abroad
Maël Hanon in the Democratic Republic
of the Congo
Rector Magnificus column
Jacquelien Scherpen
“Taking a step forward in uncertain times”
Alumnus of the Year Ninah Tiemersma
“Learning to deal with emotions”
“Wisdom begins with wonder,” a free summary of words spoken by Socrates. "Wonder" is a beautiful word. It is the beginning of many things: of questions, of seeking answers, of pursuing knowledge. Science and wonder are also connected in this way. Doesn’t every scientist begin their research with a sense of wonder and a quest for answers?
In this autumn edition of Broerstraat 5, you will again find many stories of researchers seeking answers to the major challenges of our time. What can we do about the ever-growing power of Big Tech, and how can we, as citizens and as a university, increase our digital autonomy? How can we solve the PFAS problem? And how can we combat online photo fraud? Urgent issues that demand powerful answers.
This edition’s Alumnus of the Year,
Ninah Tiemersma, graces the cover. As a teacher of classical languages, she draws inspiration from the Greeks. According to her, the stories of Greek gods are excellent for teaching people to deal with major themes and emotions such as loneliness, shame, beauty, or infidelity. In this way, she tries to enhance the well-being of her students. Alumnus Liset Hamming helps journalists and NGOs submit WOO requests (Wet open overheid – Dutch Freedom of Information Act). After all, the Netherlands does not have the most transparent government in the world.
Wonder does not stand still. It is about continuously questioning your old knowledge and answers. In this issue, you can read about the Vikings' love for poetry, something quite different from the fierce, plundering seafarers they are often portrayed as.
There are also photos from the exhibition Puinhoop (Mess) at the University Museum. A thought-provoking exhibition about the 1980s—a time we now look back on with nostalgia, but which may not be all that different from the present when you consider the struggles we faced then and now.
In this way, humanity always perseveres, searching for happiness, love, wisdom, beauty, and meaning. With this beautiful magazine, we hope to make a small contribution to that quest. Enjoy reading!