The Faculty Club of... Joost Dankers

In this section, our members tell something about themselves and why they are members of the Faculty Club. Joost Dankers is a historian at the Faculty of Humanities.

Back when the Faculty Club was founded in 1998, I became a member immediately. I thought it was a great idea to have a place to meet with colleagues and guests from outside the university in the heart of the city. And what a beautiful place you are in then! The old residence of the Dom canons of Utrecht, the centre of power in the Netherlands north of the great rivers. So it's a historical place. And with such a beautiful garden on top of that, where you only hear the bells of the Dom toll.

The Faculty Club is quite something special for guests from outside the university, a place where they wouldn't come otherwise.

What do you do in your daily life?

In my daily life, I work as a historian at the Faculty of Humanities. Ever since I graduated, I focused mostly on historical research for external clients. That way, you show that history is also relevant to the present and that we can often learn something from the past too. So for my work, I have a lot of contact with people from the corporate world, but also from the world of funds and with private clients. If possible, I invite them for a meeting during lunch or a drink in the Faculty Club. That's always a success. The Faculty Club is quite something special for guests from outside the university, a place where they wouldn't come otherwise. The atmosphere is always good and you're served by friendly staff. That immediately gives meetings with clients a relaxed and positive start.

But it's of course also lovely to just have lunch with colleagues in the Faculty Club, or to have a drink in the garden together at the end of the afternoon. And during conferences too, it's great to briefly seek out the relaxation of the Faculty Club with foreign colleagues. They're always impressed with this special place.

What is your most fun memory of the Faculty Club?

I've experienced lots of beautiful moments in the Faculty Club. What stuck with me the most is the party I had there for family and friends for the occasion of my sixtieth birthday. It was a beautiful day in late summer and we could enjoy a tasty buffet outside. After that, we danced in the Faculty Club until late in the evening. Everyone had a great time and especially my relatives from New Zealand didn't know what they were in for!

What are you looking forward to the most?

My story makes it pretty clear that I miss the Faculty Club and the great people who work there intensely. I can't wait until its doors open again and we can enjoy a drink on the terrace or a sandwich by the fireplace again. Maybe we're just in time to celebrate the Midsummernight party in the garden of the Faculty Club…

Do you have any suggestions for activities for the Faculty Club?

And if you ask me for suggestions for the Faculty Club: I think many more colleagues and alumni should come here. Hopefully, this Newsletter helps to enthuse them for that. And if not, the Faculty Club could really advertise itself a bit more.