Erasmus University Ombuds Reports Lack of Confidence in Social Safety Systems

An Ombuds Officer for Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam, Wico Verbaan, reports that employees and students have limited confidence in the university’s systems for reporting and addressing concerns about social safety. In his 2025 annual report, Verbaan notes that many people choose confidential reporting because they do not trust that existing procedures will adequately protect them if they come forward. In 2025, he received 140 cases, including 65 involving psychosocially inappropriate behavior, compared with 38 such cases in each of the previous two years. 

Utrecht University Offers Masterclass on Ombuds Practice

Universiteit Utrecht in the Netherlands will offer a five-day training Ombudsfunctionaris in breed perspectief (“Ombudsfunctionaris in Broad Perspective”) on November 23–27, 2026. The program is intended for Ombuds and related professionals, including Classical Ombudsmen, working in areas such as complaints handling, mediation, HR, legal assistance, governance, compliance, and policy advising. 

Job Posting: VU Amsterdam

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is seeking its next Staff Ombudsman. The full-time position will serve more than 6,000 faculty and staff with workplace concerns. The Ombuds reports administratively to the Executive Board while maintaining an independent role. The search will fill a position held most recently by Michiel Geursen and supplements the work of Pelin Zenginoğlu, the Student Ombudsman.

Radboud University Combines Student and Staff Ombuds Roles

Radboud Universiteit, the public research university in Nijmegen, Netherlands, has combined its Ombuds functions for students and employees following the departure of Job van Luyken, the Staff Ombuds. Aukje Verstegen, who has served as Student Ombuds since October 2023, will now handle both constituencies. The university does not plan to immediately recruit a replacement and will first review a national evaluation of the Ombuds role at Dutch universities, which may influence the future structure of the position.

University of Amsterdam Formalizes Ombuds Framework

In November 2025, Universiteit van Amsterdam adopted new regulations for its Ombuds, which affirm core principles of independence, impartiality, and confidentiality. Under the framework, the Ombuds has a legal right to information, requiring cooperation from university bodies and access to relevant records, and is empowered to investigate allegations of unjust treatment and systemic social safety issues. The framework aligns with broader European higher education practices, emphasizing a more formal, high-authority Ombuds role focused on institutional accountability and administrative fairness. 

Dutch Union Examines Growth in University Ombuds

An article published this week by the Algemene Onderwijsbond, the Netherlands’ largest education-sector union, reviews the implementation of mandatory university Ombuds offices four years after their inclusion in the 2021 collective labor agreement. While every university is now required to provide staff access to an Ombuds, the article reports uneven implementation, including departures and dismissals of Ombuds at some institutions. Interviews with practitioners and union representatives highlight wide variation in mandate, scope, staffing levels, and institutional support, particularly regarding whether Ombuds are empowered to conduct independent investigations and influence structural change. 

Ombuds at University of Twente Reports on 2024-25

Han Warmelink, the Ombuds Officer for Universiteit Twente in Enschede, Netherlands, reports that he assisted 44 staff members in 2024-25, compared to around 35 in the prior year. In addition, eight students found their way to his office. 

In his report, he also offers some insight on his work at UT and the status of Ombuds at other Dutch universities:

Meet the New Ombuds for Erasmus University Rotterdam

Aukje Verstegen has been named an Ombuds Officer for Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam, the large public research university in the Netherlands. She joins Wico Verbaan, who was appointed to the role in January 2023. Together they serve more than 40,000 students and employees. The followed Edith Weijnen, who piloted the Ombuds program alone and as part-time employee beginning in 2019. (EUR Ombuds.)

Wageningen University & Research Selects Next Ombuds

GJ (Joke) Genee has been named the next Ombudsperson for WUR, the public university in Wageningen, Netherlands. She follows Jacqueline Schoone, who established the position in 2021. As the Ombuds, Genee serves university employees and PhD candidates.

VU Amsterdam Names Next Staff Ombuds

Michiel Geursen will be the Ombuds for Staff at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam beginning next week. He follows Jacqueline Schoone in the role and joins Pelin Zenginoğlu, the Student Ombudsman. In addition, Geursen was appointed as the Ombuds Officer for Employees at Tilburg University about 100 km to the south in November 2024.

University of Groningen Names Interim Ombuds

Marianne Dijkhuizen has been appointed the interim Ombuds for Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, the public research university in the Netherlands. She follows the inaugural Ombuds, Carolijn Winnubst, who created the position in September 2021. Dijkhuizen continues as the Ombuds for NHL Hofeschool and previously worked as a contract Ombuds with De Vertrouwenspersoon B.V. for eight years. (UG Ombuds; LinkedIn.)

VU Amsterdam Interviews Both Ombuds

This week, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam published interviews with Jacqueline Schoone, the Staff Ombudsperson, and Pelin Zenginoğlu, the Student Ombudsman. Both shared information about how they work with visitors and offered some personal insights on the value of their work. Schoone, who was appointed in April 2024 talked about what makes the job meaningful to her:

Radboud University Retains Experienced Staff Ombuds

Last month, Job van Luyken was appointed the part-time Staff Ombudsperson for Radboud Universiteit. He follows the inaugural Ombuds, Nancy Viellevoye, who left abruptly and complained that the office had been understaffed and frequently sidelined in favor of external consultants. Van Luyken joins Aukje Verstegen began work as the university's first Student Ombudsperson in January 2024.

Tilburg University Names First Student Ombuds

In August, Ingrid Segers-Claessen was appointed the first Ombudsfunctionaris Studenten for the public research university in the Netherlands. She will provide services to about 20,000 students. Tilburg is in the process of hiring an Employee Ombuds. 

Leiden University Names New Student Ombuds

In May 2024, Lonneke Hulst was hired as a Student Ombudsperson at Universiteit Leiden. She joins Eugène van der Heijden, who has served as Student Ombuds since 2015. Together, they serve 33,000 enrolled students at the oldest university in the Netherlands.

Leiden University Medical Center Appoints First Ombuds

In January 2024, Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum, the teaching hospital affiliated with Leiden University in the Netherlands, named Margot Snelders-Pouw as its first Ombudsfunctionaris. As the LUMC Ombuds, she serves as a confidential, independent, and neutral resource for employees, including PhD students. 

VU Amsterdam Appoints Staff Ombuds

Jacqueline Schoone, has been named the new Staff Ombudsperson for Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. She is expected to serve in the position from April 15, 2024, to July 1, 2025. She joins Pelin Zenginoglu, who has been the Student Ombudsman since October 2022. Schoone is an experienced Ombuds and has held the position at other Dutch Universities, most recently Wageningen University & Research and also the University of Amsterdam.

At Radboud University 'Sidelined' Staff Ombuds Exits, as Student Ombuds Arrives

Nancy Viellevoye, who was appointed the first Staff Ombudsperson for Radboud Universiteit in 2021, has resigned her position. In an interview with the independent campus newspaper, Viellevoye said that she was constantly sidelined in favor of external consultants. She also was understaffed for the number of cases she was expected to handle. The vice-chair of Radboud University’s Works Council observed "It is not a good look for the university if the person who’s put their heart and soul into their job leaves after two and a half years." (Radboud Vox.)

New Book Captures Wisdom of Leading Dutch Ombuds

Paul Herfs has released his book, The Importance of Ombuds Work, as a paperback and ebook. Herfs was the Ombuds for Staff and Faculty at Utrecht University for 16 years. He has written for JIOA, ENOHE, and the Cal Caucus Journal. He served as a board member of ENOHE and has spoken at many Ombuds conferences. In 2021, he was appointed Knight of the Order of Oranje-Nassau for his many years of service to Dutch society.

Staff Ombuds at Eindhoven University of Technology Offers First Report

In her first report as the Ombudsperson for Staff at Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, Anna Soedira says that she handled 88 matters from December 2021 through June 2023. Visitor data is similar to other Dutch universities, although the overall number of visitors was slightly lower. According to an article in the campus newspaper, "She is highly critical of many social safety aspects: incidents shouldn’t just lead to good intentions, but to actual change." The public report will be presented to the University Council next month. (TU/e Ombuds Report; TU/e Cursor.)