Completely renovated Living Room in Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital opened
Thursday the 6th of February is the official opening of the completely renovated Living Room in the Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital (WKZ) in Utrecht.
The Living Room of Ronald McDonald Huis Utrecht has been indispensable on the second floor of the WKZ since 2011. After all those years, the room was in need of a major refurbishment and thanks to sponsors, donators and the efforts of the 60 active volunteers of the Living Room, the result has become truly beautiful; a warm haven of peace close to the wards of the children’s hospital.
The spacious Living Room of 240 m² is spread over three floors and is equipped with all conveniences to make a visit as pleasant as possible. For example, parents can retreat to one of the nine separate seating areas to unwind, have a cup of coffee or work between hospital appointments. For siblings, there are various play areas and a real gaming corner. There is even a bedroom, and should parents be short of laundry for their sick child, the washing machine and dryer offer a solution.
On average, the Living Room receives about 1,850 visitors a month. Parents, siblings and sick children get away from the hospital atmosphere for a while. ‘In the Living Room of the WKZ, the hospital feels far away fore a while. It is a warm place where parents and children can relax and feel at home,’ says Kathelijn van Glabbeek, assistant manager Ronald McDonald Huis Utrecht. The volunteers in the Living Room are available to parents 365 days a year for a cup of coffee or a listening ear; from Monday to Friday from 8.00-21.30, and on weekends from 12.00-21.00. Kathelijn: ‘We get some lovely and nice reactions, the parents find it a wonderful and pleasant place with very kind volunteers. And that, of course, is why we do it.’
The Ronald McDonald Living Room at the WKZ is one of 12 living rooms in the Netherlands where parents and family members can find peace and quiet in the middle of the hospital, between all the examinations and treatments of the sick child. Recent research has shown that 96% of parents said they gained new energy by staying in the Living Room, and cooperation with the treatment team also went more smoothly because they could be close to their sick child.
His Majesty the King visits large-scale exercise at the Major Incident Hospital at Utrecht Science Park: prepared together for major emergencies
On Saturday, October 31, a large-scale exercise took place at the Major Incident Hospital at the Utrecht Science Park. During the exercise, dubbed “Dubbelspoor” (Dual Track), the Major Incident Hospital had to respond to two major incidents almost simultaneously. In Amersfoort, a train carrying thirty injured Dutch military personnel arrived. At nearly the same time, a coach plowed into a crowd during a Halloween celebration. His Majesty the King also visited both locations, marking the 35th anniversary of the Major Incident Hospital.
Free Bicycle Light Repairs Mark Launch of National Cycling Visibility Campaign in Utrecht
The national bicycle lighting campaign ‘AAN in het donker’ (Lights On in the Dark) will be launched on 29 October on Leuvenlaan at Utrecht Science Park. Between 5:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., cyclists can have their lights checked and repaired free of charge. André van Schie, Member of the Provincial Executive, will be there to talk to Utrecht residents about the importance of proper bicycle lighting.
Utrecht University and UMC Utrecht awarded with twelve NWO Vidi-grants
The Dutch Research Council (NWO) has awarded Vidi grants to 109 researchers. Twelve leading researchers at Utrecht University and UMC Utrecht will each receive a Vidi grant of up to €850,000. NWO awards Vidi grants annually, enabling recipients to develop an innovative line of research over the next five years and further expand their research teams.
Looking back at Utrecht Science Week: research, education, and entrepreneurship in the spotlight
Utrecht Science Week 2026 has come to a close. For over a week, visitors enjoyed workshops, lectures, group discussions, and tours focused on science and innovation at Utrecht Science Park. With more than thirty program activities across over 25 locations, there were ample opportunities to experience science up close. We look back on a fantastic week that once again highlighted the essential role of collaboration, and the combination of research, education, and entrepreneurship, in addressing the societal challenges of our time.