What is it like having the UvA as your neighbour? “Felt like our house could collapse at any moment”
Better a good neighbour than a distant friend? Anyone looking to put this saying into practice can take part in one of the many activities being organised this weekend as part of Neighbourhood Day. But what is it actually like to have the UvA as your neighbour?
A good neighbour is a great asset, but certainly not something to be taken for granted. That is why Neighbourhood Day has been held in the Netherlands on the fourth Saturday of September for the past twenty years. But what is it actually like for the UvA’s immediate neighbours to live next door to the university?
Tjeerd Kamper (59) has lived on Binnengasthuisstraat, next to the University Library, since 1996.
“You might think the UvA would be a quiet neighbour, but that isn’t the case in practice. Because of the renovation of the library, we lived next to a building site for ten years, and now that the library has finally opened, there are people outside chatting until around midnight. The university also carries out a lot of maintenance work, so there is always some activity and noise in the street. That can be a bit of a nuisance.”
“Sometimes it’s quite nice having all those students on the doorstep, though. The only downside is that we have a problem with bicycle parking. A lot of students leave their bikes outside our front door instead of putting them in the basement. That’s annoying for residents, because it means there’s no room left for our bikes.”
“Other than that, our relationship with the university is good. I’m a member of the residents’ association, and in the past there were occasional clashes, but these days the consultation process works better. So in that sense, I get on well with the university as a neighbour. I’m also glad that something was finally done with the building, because it had been falling into disrepair. The library has turned out beautifully in the end.”
Vivien Egan (23) has lived on Oudezijds Achterburgwal, next to Oudemanhuispoort, since 2023.
“It’s really great living next to the university. This location is obviously amazing for a poor student like me, and when I have classes at Bushuis, I can practically roll straight there.”
“In our student house, we even have a door that leads directly to Oudemanhuispoort from the inside. We’re not actually allowed to use it, but we have done so a few times in the past. You can walk straight from the safety of your little home to class. Sometimes you almost forget that this house is also part of the UvA.”
“I don’t have much contact with the university as a neighbour, and because I’m not home much during the day myself, I don’t really notice all that many students walking along the street. But I think it makes for a nice mix in the neighbourhood, because there are also a lot of older people living here.”
“I imagine there are some local residents who might find it difficult having students living here too, but the university has been here for hundreds of years. It’s nice to keep it that way. And if you live in such a special place, a bit of noise is a small price to pay.”
Katrien Sitters (59) and Lode Bruins (63) have lived on Valckenierstraat, next to the Roeterseiland campus, since 2011.
Sitters: “When we moved here, there was a massive construction project going on, which caused us a lot of disruption. There was an incredible amount of construction traffic, and it felt as though the house could collapse at any moment.”
Bruins: “Rubble was being removed constantly, and the cups on the table were literally trembling. Eventually, something had to be done because it was becoming genuinely dangerous.”
Sitters: “We could see that the UvA was doing its best, but a university is obviously a huge organisation. There were lots of meetings to try to calm the neighbourhood down, but they often ended in unpleasant confrontations too. People were so angry.”
Sitters: “Other than that, the UvA is actually a pretty good neighbour these days. But the one thing I really can’t understand is why the management of the green spaces is so poor. They’re always mowing, and every blade of grass is removed. We really need a different approach to green-space management if we want to give insects a bit of a helping hand, or try to retain water. It’s all very old-fashioned.”
Bruins: “I also think it would be more enjoyable for the students if more was done with the greenery. They already have a beautiful space here, but I think it would be good for creating more of a campus feel. Maybe even the water could be included. Just more greenery.”
