Jan’s perspective
De Uithof I never studied in the city centre. As a
always smelled, I should add — that’s what
scientist, De Uithof was always my natural
happens if you don’t put in any windows.
habitat. De Uithof — I think you’re sup-
And with lighting behind the toilet bowls
posed to call it Science Park these days,
and stall doors made of frosted glass, you
not much of an improvement to me — could
could tell by the shadow who wiped their
still be a bit disdained at the time (early this
bum sitting or standing).
century). It was a remote enclave, a bit like the way they used to keep the lepers outside
Nowadays, the concrete and brick designs
the city gates.
by Kruyt and Langeveld (they’ll probably start calling themselves Gunpowder
I never got that. I love De Uithof. (You can
and Longfield soon) stand alongside the
put Science Park on all the exit signs on the
red millennium stucco of the Minnaert
ring-road around it, but that’s not going to
building and the gleaming glass and steel
change a thing). I wouldn’t exactly describe
structures built after I left. The University’s
it as a Garden of Eden, but I do have some
motto used to be ‘science is never finished’,
divine memories of that time. The sand-
and De Uithof embodies that message
wiches from Tricolore. The extremely
to this day. The name Science Park might
overpriced Spar. De Uitwijk cultural centre,
seem to imply a place to park science, but
where I noticed a large group of people
that couldn’t be further from the truth:
staring in the same direction in September
it’s an extremely dynamic environment.
2001, just before a plane crashed into the
I still feel at home every time I park my bike
second WTC tower on the small television
there — the kids’ seats on my handlebars
screen two minutes later.
are the only reminder of the passing years.
De Uithof underwent a real transformation during my years as a student. It was where
Jan Beuving
all the innovation took place. Everything
Jan studied at Utrecht University for nine years, completing a Bachelor’s programme in M athematics (2008) and a Master’s programme in the History and Philosophy of Science (2009). After that, he became a comedian and cabaret artist. See janbeuving.nl for his performance s chedule.
you couldn’t do in the city turned out to be possible at De Uithof: lofty tower blocks for students. Wonderful new University buildings. A huge library. (Where the toilets
image Maartje ter Horst
