A former school, a medal of honour, and a collection of old books. Radboud University received three gifts from mayor Hubert Bruls this afternoon during the centenary celebrations.

Radboud University received three presents from the city of Nijmegen during the Dies Natalis this afternoon. Mayor Hubert Bruls was present at the centenary celebrations of the university, hosted at De Vereeniging. He congratulated the university and the city of Nijmegen as a whole, stressing the added value of the university to the city.

Bruls then presented a silver medal of honour and a collection of old books to executive board chair Daniël Wigboldus. Additionally, the municipality of Nijmegen donated a former school building on loan to the university.

National monument

The building in question is the Latijnse School, located across the Sint Stevenkerk. The plan is to use the building as a residence for scientists who make their work accessible to the public. The former school, a national monument, can be used at least between early 2024 and mid-2025 by Radboud University.

The collection of old books was until recently on loan to Radboud University. ‘As the university took such good care of the books over the past 100 years, it’s allowed to keep them,’ joked the mayor.

The Silver Medal of Honour has been awarded since 1959 to individuals and organisations that have made extraordinary contributions to societal needs. This often includes people or organisations that have a connection to the city and have earned national cultural, societal, or athletic acclaim. This is the thirty-third time that the Medal of Honour has been presented.

The university also gave presents to the city: ‘In the upcoming period’, two acoustic mirrors will be erected at the Lentse Warande.

Translated by Antonia Leise.