University of Harderwijk

The University of Harderwijk (1648-1811), also named the Guelders Academy, was located in the town of Harderwijk, in the Republic of the United Provinces (now: the Netherlands). It was founded by the province of Guelders.

Some well-known graduates of the University of Harderwijk are

• explorer Jacob Roggeveen (1690)
• physician Herman Boerhaave (1693)
• Swedish scientist Linnaeus (1735)
• statesman Herman Willem Daendels (1783)
• poet A.C.W. Staring (1787)

The university of Harderwijk didn't have a good reputation, because of its low standards. Nevertheless, it attracted many students with its low fees. Many students of other university went to Harderwijk to graduate; the most famous graduate, Linnaeus, stayed only a week at Harderwijk.

The university was closed during the French occupation. Later, king William I tried to re-establish the university, without success.

In the 1990s in the Dutch children's television program Het Klokhuis Prof. Fetze Alsvanouds regularly appeared. ("Als vanouds" means something like "as it used to be".) Alsvanouds was a professor on the University of Harderwijk, he was played by Aart Staartjes .

External link

• http://www.snma.nl/univhwijk/UnivOfHarderwijk.html