31 March 2023. This date will go down in history as an important day for the Nijmegen student associations Carolus Magnus and Ovum Novum. Today, they will officially buy their own association buildings.

Both student associations are filled with great excitement. ‘We will have our own building’, says Ovum Novum chairman AJ Dons with a touch of pride. He points to the meeting room’s ceiling, where the names of the four association’s founding members are painted. ‘The thought that four students came up with the idea to start their own association 33 years ago, and that we will now be owning our own building for our seven hundred members, really impresses me. It is a great milestone.’

Until today, the student association rented the building on the Canisiussingel from the Stichting Studentenvoorzieningen Nijmegen (SSN). This is an independent foundation that operates on behalf of Radboud University, and it is the successor of the SNUF university foundation which ended operations in 2017. Their neighbour student association Carolus Magnus, which is located around the corner on the Hertogstraat, also rented their building from SSN up until today.

Financial strength principle

Around noon, both associations and the representatives of SSN will sign the sales agreement at the notary office. The buildings will then officially fall into the personal management of the associations. The prices are relatively low. Carolus Magnus will approximately pay 300,000 euros, whereas their neighbour settled for around 200,000 euros.

‘It wouldn’t be fair to make Carolus and Ovum pay top price’

SSN chairman Thomas Beguin did not want to comment on the price. However, he does point out that the buildings have been sold under the financial strength principle. ‘SSN exists to help associations financially. It wouldn’t be fair to make Carolus and Ovum pay top price. We have looked at the operational costs and what the associations can afford to stay financially healthy, and we adjusted the price accordingly.’

However, there are some conditions attached to the purchase, Beguin explains. For instance, the associations are not allowed to sell the buildings in the next fifty years. ‘This is to avoid speculation in real estate, and to avoid a quick profit from a resell. That also justifies the price.’

Additionally, Carolus emphasises that the price is in line with the market value. ‘The valuations indicated that it would be very expensive to transform the building in its current state into an office’, says former Carolinger Paul van der Kolk.

Getting all the funding together wasn’t an easy task, as both associations needed several years to do so. Yet, the two associations had different approaches to obtain the funding. Carolus could count on the support of its former members. ‘Together with a few former members, we have set up a private company called Chateau Charlemagne,’ explains Van der Kolk, who is also chairman of this company. ‘Through various actions of our current members and with the support of our many former members, we have managed to collect a nice amount. That money was transferred to the private company, which was able to buy the building. The association will then pay rent to the private company.’

‘It would have been a great loss for student life if Carolus and Ovum had to move’

Neighbour Ovum used a similar construct, but with a different route. The student association started their own separate foundation, which is managed by the members. Whereas Carolus can count on their large alumni base, Ovum mainly relies on the money of its current members, or former members who have just finished their studies. The foundation purchased the building and will lease it to the association.

Financial stimulation

Why did SSN want to sell their buildings? ‘Our goal is to financially stimulate the full student life’, chairman Beguin remarks. ‘But we are not property managers. When we transformed SNUF into SSN in 2017, we expressed our wish to sell the buildings that we own in the city centre and to focus on providing subsidies for different associations.’

Those buildings in the city centre are those of the two student associations, as well as Villa van Schaeck on the Van Schaeck Mathonsingel. We are still looking for a new use for the Villa, which is currently used by Phocas to house their rowers until they can move to their new location on the Spiegelwaal.

In the past, SNUF also owned O42 on the Oranjesingel, where jeu de boules bar Boules & Bites is located nowadays. However, that building was already sold in 2006.

‘In the case of Carolus Magnus and Ovum Novum, we thought it would be best if they could buy their own buildings’, Beguin continues. ‘They have been there for years and they are located in prime locations in Nijmegen. It would have been a great loss for student life if Carolus and Ovum had to move.’

Draft agreement

The associations were interested in the proposal, and last year, the draft agreement for the purchase was signed. Today, both parties will sign the agreement for the final sale.

As a result of this change, the university is no longer ultimately responsible for what happens within the walls of the association. ‘But we have always had a good relationship with the university and it will stay that way’, says Dons. ‘If we need any advice, or financial and administrative support, we will always consult the university.’

‘This will be the perfect spot to drink some beers’

According to former Carolinger Van der Kolk, local residents don’t have to worry about more nuisance. ‘We will hire a concierge for several days a week. Their task will not be limited to chores, but also to monitor that the surroundings of the building remain clean. If the neighbours do have a complaint, they can directly consult the concierge, instead of reaching out indirectly through the university. We definitely want to invest more in our relationship with the surroundings.’

Ovum Novum chairman Dons announces that his association will build a new bar. He opens the doors and points at wooden planks leaning against the wall. ‘The bar is already there, built by our own members. This will be the perfect spot to drink some beers.’

Translated by Sophie Verhoeven