The university’s birthday through the centuries: celebration with an edge

On 26 March, Utrecht University celebrates its birthday, the 390th dies natalis. Over the centuries, dark clouds have regularly gathered above the university. Yet there has always been some reason for a celebration as well. Perhaps as a way of warding off those dark clouds. The anniversary celebrations have therefore often had an edge to them. There was always something rubbing the wrong way.

The university had survived the disaster year of 1672

Take the fiftieth anniversary in 1686. On the one hand, the occasion was celebrated – albeit modestly. And not only with speeches in the Dom Church. In addition to the now traditional meal, music sounded from the Dom Tower and there were two days of fireworks just outside the city gates. The joy mainly concerned the thought that the university had survived. A few years earlier, in the disaster year of 1672, this had by no means seemed certain, when Utrecht was occupied by the French army.

Yet there was also friction, for the first fifty years had been dominated by the fierce struggle over the modern philosophy of Descartes, which was attacked from all sides. The orthodox theologians, strongly represented in Utrecht, feared that his doubt as a precondition for scientific progress would ultimately lead to criticism of religion itself.

In a celebratory poem, the poet Annet van der Schuer discussed the professors. The tone of the debate is typified by her poem of praise for the conservative theologian Petrus van Mastricht: “Dees man beschouwt men best in Cartes-kancker-schrift / Daer hy voor nieuwe leer ons schenckt een tegengift.” Thus Van Mastricht was deployed as a remedy against the supposedly poisonous doctrine of Descartes, which some of his colleagues defended.

To increase the merriment, twelve cannons were fired.

Celebration despite declining student numbers

The first century was celebrated exuberantly in 1736, if only to conceal that student numbers were not doing so well. It was quite a spectacle. From all the strongholds of power – from the city hall on the Oudegracht to the States chamber at the Janskerkhof – dignitaries in full regalia processed to the Dom Church for a festive commemoration. To increase the merriment, twelve cannons were fired.

The students had a print made: ‘De Gekroonde Utrechtsche Schenk-kan’, with which they offered a symbolic toast. On the handle the following good wish could be read: “Kom vat my aen op dezen voet, dat God deez stadt nog lang behoet” and on the spout: “Loop vlijtig uit op ’t goed geluk, van Utrecht by dat gaet! Kluk, kluk, kluk.”

Banquet amid political tensions

Political tensions troubled the celebration of the 150th anniversary in 1786. The years-long struggle between the Orangists – supporters of Stadtholder William V – and the so-called Patriots or democrats was becoming ever more intense. Students and several professors also made their voices heard. In March 1786 the situation became threatening and it seemed unwise to hold a celebration on the 26th, so the festivities were postponed until June. Large banquets were nevertheless held, by professors as well as students.

Things proceeded more carefree half a century later in 1836, although even then it was not forgotten that the university’s continued existence had never been self-evident. After all, it was only twenty-five years since Napoleon had decided that all the universities of his empire were to fall under that of Paris. Utrecht now became an ‘École secondaire’: a second-rate university and without the right to confer doctorates.

The anniversary celebrations have often had an edge to them. There was always something rubbing the wrong way.

In her Vreugde-zang at the bicentenary, the well-known blind Utrecht poet Petronella Moens also referred to those events: “Toen Frankrijks dwingland, de trotsche Korsikaan / voor heel Europpa ‘t licht der vreugd deed ondergaan / Toen zag ook Utrecht, lang om kunde en deugd geroemd / Haar leerschool smadlijk tot vernietiging gedoemd.” (Napoleon’s domination of Europe brought darkness and led to the humiliating threat of Utrecht’s university being abolished.)

Student processions had existed for much longer, but now, for the first time, what was called a ‘truly historical’ masquerade procession was organised. An army unit stationed in the city helped to stage a nocturnal procession with torches in seventeenth-century dress, complete with horses. The procession began from Achter de Dom. Afterwards, a beautiful fold-out card could be purchased at the art dealer Caramelli, depicting all the characters from the procession.

An Academy Building as a gift

If contemporary politics was avoided in 1836, fifty years later it dominated the 250th anniversary. The Catholic member of parliament Schaepman had said that the Netherlands could manage with one fewer national university. Utrecht feared it might be the victim and devised a ruse. The birthday university received a new Academy Building from the city’s citizens. The idea was that abolishing the university would, with such a new building, immediately also mean a great destruction of capital. The Academy Building on the Domplein, opened in 1894, thus remains a lasting reminder of the 250th anniversary.

A speech with a shadowed edge

And once again there was a sharp edge to the university’s birthday when, in 1936, the tricentenary was celebrated on a grand scale with much music and yet another splendid masquerade procession. Representatives of some three hundred universities from all over the world were present. With their own often colourful academic dress, they formed a spectacle during the great festive week.

The shadowed edge was the speech of rector C.W. Vollgraff in the Dom Church. He managed to explain that it was above all Protestantism that had laid the foundations for the flourishing of the Netherlands: “de Hervorming, wier zonen wij zijn, en onder wier hoede deze Universiteit is gegroeid”. That was not something one said on such an occasion.

From a grey image to a colourful university

There was no such slip in 1986. That anniversary was, however, aimed at improving the rather grey image of Utrecht University. In keeping with the spirit of the times, this was done with a large science exhibition at the Jaarbeurs. Whether that anniversary was the cause may be somewhat exaggerated, but the fact is that the Rijksuniversiteit Utrecht, a few years later as Utrecht University, flourished once again despite major budget cuts.

We are approaching 2036. No one knows what the world will look like then. Some doubt the continued existence of the university in its current form. But whatever form it may take, it will be worth looking back on four centuries of history. Those four hundred years alone seem to me reason enough for a grand celebration. Apparently, people are already thinking about it.