Lustrumfestival on 12 and 13 September: what’s coming up?

This spectacular festival marks the university’s 390th anniversary. The UB Binnenstad will be transformed into a festive festival hub with two outdoor stages brimming with music, science and a great atmosphere. Curious to find out what’s on? This post gives you a taste of the programme.

Music and dance

On Saturday, there’ll be a diverse range of music and dance performances by current and former students and groups from Utrecht and the surrounding area. LOF DanceCrew will be bringing contemporary dance to the University Library chapel. The musical line-up is wide-ranging: from swing and jazz to world music, gypsy music and close harmony, and everything in between. The day will conclude with a spectacular finale by the Utrecht Student Big Band.

On Sunday afternoon, you can enjoy two open-air concerts in the courtyard: the choir of the Utrecht Student Choir and Orchestra (USKO) and the Utrecht Student Concert (USConcert) featuring Medusa.

Science, dialogue, exhibitions and experiments

Join in discussions with university researchers on topics such as AI, human rights and experiments in your neighbourhood. You can also view the ‘Being a University’ tapestry and poems by Utrecht residents about our city.

In addition, the UMU has a ‘research square’, where you can find answers to all sorts of thought-provoking questions. Think, for example: what does a cat look like on the inside? Can you test whether you’re stronger than air? And is it possible to do two things at once? During the festival, you’ll also have the chance to delve into student life of the past through student almanacs from the 19th and early 20th centuries. And there’s an ‘Experience Table’, where you can interactively explore the University Library’s Special Collections.

Open Monument Day

Drift 27, now the UB Binnenstad, has a rich history of residents, including a number of clergymen and King Louis Napoleon. Saturday 12 September is Open Monument Day, and the UB is taking part. During a guided tour, library staff will share fascinating stories about this remarkable history.

The full programme and timetable

This is just a selection from the full programme. See the timetable below. If you click on it, you’ll be taken to the overview page with all the information about the anniversary festival.