Our story

On December 1st 2019, the first five VSAs of the Netherlands (Groningen, Nijmegen, Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Wageningen) met for the first time in Amsterdam. They exchanged their experiences at one table, agreed on a number of shared statements to stand by, and discussed future plans for collaboration.

For the next few months, a committee with one representative of each VSA worked together on the first draft of our Shared Mission & Values Statements. They also brainstormed on the organization and decision-making structure of VSA NL. At their suggestion, the five individual VSAs that existed at that time decided they wanted to formalize their collaboration in an official umbrella association.

On August 15th 2020, the first board of VSA Netherlands was democratically elected. They were given one clear assignment: establish the umbrella association and get registered. In 2021, the network welcomed new VSAs in Utrecht and Leiden as full members. At the same time, new initiatives had also sprung up in other cities (Eindhoven, Maastricht and Tilburg). They have all been crucial part of the project with their vital feedback and decisions influencing the direction and shape of VSA Netherlands.