First adopted bench placed in Botanic Gardens
This new bench has stood in a beautiful spot in the Botanic Gardens since August 29, thanks to a donation from the De Winter-Heijnsius Foundation. The foundation, established by a Utrecht horticulturist, supports good causes in the municipality of Utrecht. Thanks to the wonderful contribution of € 5,000, we were able to place this bench and the foundation also supports important projects concerning nature education and biodiversity in our Gardens.
UU alumni
The four board members present at the placement all studied at our university. In alumni magazine Illuster, they read about the possibility of adopting a bench: “We had long wanted a bench with our name on it, somewhere in Utrecht, and here in the Botanical Gardens is of course a beautiful spot.”
Interested in adopting a bench?
Looking for a personal and lasting gift, or a lasting memento of a loved one or special event? Not only will you donate the bench, but you will also support the Botanical Gardens. And of course, we will attach a sign to the bench as a thank you. Interested? Click here for more information.
Utrecht Science Park Summer Café: Farewell to Managing Director Jan Henk van der Velden
On Monday, 6 July, the Utrecht Science Park Summer Café took place at Grand Café Living on Utrecht Science Park. This edition was dedicated to the farewell of Jan Henk van der Velden, Managing Director of the Utrecht Science Park Foundation, after nine years in which he played a key role in the development and positioning of the ecosystem.
UMC Utrecht is to get a new main entrance and a green campus park
The north side of UMC Utrecht is set to undergo a major redevelopment in the coming years. Utrecht City Council and the teaching hospital have presented plans for a new main entrance, a central car park and a green reception area designed to improve connections between the hospitals at Utrecht Science Park. The plans have now been submitted to the city council.
Petra Baarendse appointed new Managing Director of Stichting Utrecht Science Park as of 1 September
Utrecht, 2 July 2026 – As of 1 September 2026, Petra Baarendse will take office as the new Managing Director of Stichting Utrecht Science Park. She succeeds Jan Henk van der Velden, who has stepped down and will take on a new role as Managing Director of Stichting Nationaal Park Utrechtse Heuvelrug.
Opening Utrecht Science Week with keynote by Juliette Legler on the hidden influence of environmental chemicals
On Friday, September 25, the annual science festival ‘Utrecht Science Week’ kicks off once again at Utrecht Science Park. We are pleased to announce that this year, Prof. Dr. Ir. Juliette Legler will deliver the Utrecht Science Lecture. Juliette Legler is Professor of Toxicology at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Utrecht University and leads the ‘One Health Toxicology’ group at the Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS).