Recap Utrecht Science Week 2026

On Friday 25 September, the sixth edition of Utrecht Science Week opened with the keynote lecture by Prof. dr. ir. Juliette Legler, Professor of Toxicology at Utrecht University and head of the One Health Toxicology group at the Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS).

In her keynote, Healthy Planet, Healthy People: Towards Solutions for a Polluted World, Legler took the audience into the world of environmental chemicals. She outlined how her research on endocrine-disrupting chemicals and microplastics focuses on solutions, such as new methods for assessing the risks of chemicals and the development of safer chemicals and materials. According to her, this is only possible if the different disciplines and sectors within science, policy and society work together. An inspiring opening that showed what the Utrecht Science Park stands for: research that contributes to a healthy, sustainable society.

Photographer: Seth Carnill

On the opening day of Utrecht Science Week, the Betweter Festival traditionally took place at TivoliVredenburg. For the tenth time, art and science came together in a day full of lectures, interviews, music, art installations, film and live research.

Sander Schimmelpenninck and Marcel Lubbers talked about what drives the “angry citizen”, Brankele Frank about music as the ultimate way to reduce stimulation, Inge Loes ten Kate about the chance that we are not alone in the universe, and Nina Köll about whether AI means the end of Hollywood. Visitors also tested how refined their taste buds are and took part in a scientifically sound pillow fight. In a relaxed festival setting, researchers, artists and visitors reflected together on the big questions of today and the world of tomorrow.

Photographers: Ben Houdijk, Jelmer de Haas, Ward Mevis

This year’s Walking Dinner on Monday 28 September was centred around the topic “Utrecht Child Health”. Leaders from the Utrecht Science Park, the city, the region and The Hague, researchers, healthcare professionals, community partners and entrepreneurs walked to three locations: the Danone Global Research & Innovation Center, the Princess Máxima Center and the Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital.

There they attended presentations and demonstrations on topics including iron deficiency in children, healthy brain development in newborns, innovations in the treatment of brain tumours, shared decision-making in bone cancer, and care for chronically ill children who grow up into adulthood. The evening showed how knowledge institutions, hospitals and companies within one square kilometre work together towards a healthier future with better opportunities for children.

Photographer: Seth Carnill

On Monday 28 September, the Hubrecht Institute opened its doors for an exclusive tour. After a short introduction, visitors went into the laboratories in small groups with researchers. They got to witness up close how researchers use model systems such as organoids, zebrafish and roundworms to study how life works, from the very first cell division to complex tissues and organs. Visitors got a behind-the-scenes look at internationally leading research in molecular and developmental biology.

Photographer: Seth Carnill

How are vaccines actually made? Visitors found out on Tuesday 29 September at Bilthoven Biologicals, which opened its vaccine factory for one evening. The evening started with a lecture by experts from the company, who used two examples to explain how a vaccine is developed from an initial idea to a final product. After the lecture there was room for questions, followed by a tour of the site and informal drinks and conversation to end the evening.

On Tuesday 29 September, Sustainability Day took place at Utrecht University of Applied Sciences. The theme was “a sustainable and social economy”, in which economic growth does not come at the expense of people, animals and the environment, and in which circularity and social enterprises play a major role.

The day began with a plenary session that included a keynote by Bas van Abel and student pitches, followed by workshops. At the Green Market, circular initiatives took centre stage, and the day ended with drinks on the Sustainability Square.

Photographer: Seth Carnill

Water quality in the Netherlands is under pressure from drought, pollution and salinisation, yet major systematic changes are slow to get going. At the Water Dialogue, technologists, financiers, policymakers and scientists came together to discuss the future of our water.

After a short introduction by the speakers, the focus was on dialogue: what holds different parties back, where are the opportunities, and which steps are already possible right now? Topics included water quality and quantity, the role of agriculture, financial incentives and cross-border water challenges. The conversation continued informally during the drinks afterwards.

Photographer: Seth Carnill

On Thursday evening 1 October, students from Utrecht University and Utrecht University of Applied Sciences came together at Café Minnaert to compete in the annual pub quiz.

After a start with free pizza, 18 teams competed over several rounds for the prizes, with questions about the city of Utrecht, the Utrecht Science Park, sports and music. After the prize ceremony, the evening ended with drinks.

Photographer: Seth Carnill

On Friday 2 October, Utrecht Science Week closed with the finale of the Sustainable City Challenge at the Accelerator. For a week, vocational (MBO) and applied sciences (HBO) students worked together in mixed teams on ideas for a healthier, more liveable and greener city, around themes such as a healthy living environment, active mobility, biodiversity and community building in different Utrecht neighbourhoods.

During the expo, all teams presented their ideas to visitors, after which the finalists pitched their ideas and the audience could vote for the Audience Award. The finale also saw the launch of TIVO Utrecht, a new youth platform.

Photographer: Seth Carnill

On Sunday 4 October, leading organisations at the Utrecht Science Park opened their doors for Weekend van de Wetenschap, a national science weekend that traditionally takes place at the end of Utrecht Science Week. Visitors of all ages got a look behind the scenes at different organisations, including Utrecht University, Utrecht University of Applied Sciences, the Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital and the Princess Máxima Center.

Visitors did experiments in a real laboratory, built robots and discovered how paediatricians and researchers work together on new treatments. In this way, they became acquainted with research, technology and innovation in an accessible and interactive way.

Photographer: Ward Mevis