Basic information and contact details for Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Founded in 1880 by the Neo-Calvinist theologian and former prime minister Abraham Kuyper, VU Amsterdam was the first university in the Netherlands to be independent from the church or state, although it retained close Protestant ties. Its full name, Vrije Universiteit, translates as “Free University”, signifying the strong emphasis that the institution placed on academic independence from the outset.
VU Amsterdam began life in a few rented rooms on the Amstel river and as it continued to grow, it began to occupy more buildings in the city. However, since 1968, the university has been housed on a single campus in the southern Buitenveldert area of Amsterdam, adjacent to the Zuidas business district.
In 2009 work began on renovating and modernising the campus to accommodate its rapidly expanding student population, which today numbers just over 23,000. The ongoing modernisation project, which will effectively double the size of the university, encompasses the Main Building, the New University Building, the O|2 Lab Building and a new campus square, along with further student accommodation. The university’s aim is to create an environment that is car-free, with green roofs and squares that act as meeting places.
VU Amsterdam provides a wide variety of study options, taught by 2,500 academic staff based at 11 faculties. It offers nearly 50 undergraduate degree programmes and more than 100 master’s programmes, many of which are taught in English. The university also has a strong focus on scientific research and is home to five Spinoza (the “Dutch Nobel”) prizewinners.
Notable alumni include cycling world champion Ellen van Dijk and Amazon vice-president Werner Vogels.
Rankings
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World University Rankings 2025
Breakdown via year: Overall
Ranking positions 2016 to 2025
2025
=136th
2024
125th
2023
121st
2022
115th
2021
116th
2020
138th
2019
166th
2018
=165th
2017
=156th
2016
154th
Precise ranks and overall scores are shown for the institutions toward the top of a ranking; for institutions with banded ranks, please see the relevant ranking tables for an indication of their scores.
Impact Rankings
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Impact Rankings 2024
Breakdown via year: Overall
Impact Ranking positions 2020 to 2024
2024
201-300th
2023
101-200th
2022
201-300th
2021
101-200th
2020
39th
Precise ranks and overall scores are shown for the institutions toward the top of a ranking; for institutions with banded ranks, please see the relevant ranking tables for an indication of their scores.
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