The 538 Morning Run for the Máxima, a day full of impact
Saturday, March 22, the second edition of The 538 Ochtendrun took place at the Olympic Stadium in Amsterdam. Once again, thanks to the radio DJs of the 538 Ochtendshow and their listeners, money was raised for the Prinses Máxima Centrum. This time following the story of the incurably ill Jade Kops (18). For several months she has been working tirelessly to raise money for her fellow sufferers in the Máxima. With her openness and positivity, she touches people throughout the Netherlands, including the DJs of the 538 Morning Show.
An impressive result
The 538 Morning Show took action for Jade and her peers to raise money for a cell sorting machine. Nearly 600 €538 tickets were sold to participate in one of the three runs of 5.38 km. Many enthusiastic participants, colleagues, ambassadors and Dutch celebrities took action. This resulted in a large number of checks that were personally handed over on the spot. Donations also poured in during The Morning Run. The result? An amazing final amount of no less than € 790,542! After The Morning Run this was increased to € 822,000. With this amount, the Princess Máxima Center can purchase the desired cell sorting device, a BD Aria Fusion flow cytometer. This will allow researchers to more quickly and accurately find the immune cells that can best fight the tumor.
A special thanks to all donors, campaigners, Radio 538, partners, and also to the ambassadors – especially Bas Smit -, Jeroen ’the sponsor runner’ and the artists who performed selflessly. Without their commitment and support this would not have been possible. This brings the Princess Máxima Center one step closer to realizing their mission: to cure every child with cancer, with optimal quality of life.
Picture: Princess Máxima Center/ The Arrows
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).