First tickets on sale for RUG400 events

The ten-day musical theatre event For Infinity, the two-day Walk for Infinity, the Lauwersloop run, the alumni weekend and the biggest student gala ever: the first tickets for the University of Groningen’s 400th anniversary celebrations will go on sale on Friday 1 November. All tickets are available online from the www.rug400.nl website.

Groningen will be immersed in a celebratory programme between 15 May and 15 June 2014 that revolves around the RUG400 theme For Infinity (4∞). The month-long celebrations will include parties, sporting events, the transfer of knowledge and culture, and there will be events every day, both big and small. In the preparations for this month of celebration the University is working closely with partners from the northern Netherlands such as the Noord Nederlands Toneel (NNT) Theatre Company and Tocht om de Noord (Northern Walking Trail) as well as with student organizations such as the ACLO sports organization.

Ten-day musical theatre event For Infinity

In sketches, songs and dialogue writer Tom de Ket has managed to create a hilarious picture of the world of university and learning, and the relationship between the University of Groningen and the residents of the city and its surroundings. A six-piece band plays a variety of live music, the Groningen Student Choir provides vocal accompaniment, and alongside the talented actors from the NNT a number of famous former or current Groningen residents have been invited to perform a sketch or song.

The show will take place on the Zernike Campus. The try-outs will be held on Wednesday 14 and Thursday 15 May 2014, and the performances themselves will be from Friday 16 to Sunday 25 May 2014. This event is a co-production of the University and the NNT.

Two-day Walk for Infinity

A two-day Walk for Infinity will be held on the first two days of Ascension Weekend (Thursday 29 and Friday 30 May 2014) setting off from Greetsiel, the birthplace of Ubbo Emmius, and going to Groningen. The walk will pass right through buildings, farms and churches. Walkers can enjoy music, theatre and historical and local delicacies on the way. The maximum number of participants is 1500.

This international walk is an initiative of the University of Groningen and follows a concept developed by The Northern Walking Trail, which is also organizing it.

Lauwersloop run

The Lauwersloop run will be staged for the first time in 14 years on Friday 30 May 2014. It is a relay race for students, and runs from Leeuwarden to Groningen via Lauwersoog. The distance of some 110 kilometres is divided into 17 stages that vary from 2.7 to 12 kilometres. The finish is in the centre of Groningen.

The first Lauwersloop was held in 1980, and the last one in 2000. It is being put on once again in honour of the 400th anniversary of the University of Groningen, and will once again be held annually after 2014. The University and the ACLO student sports organization are working closely together on it.

Alumni weekend

The closing weekend of the RUG400 celebrations (Friday 13 to Sunday 15 June 2014) is dedicated to alumni. Student associations will open their doors on the Friday, and on the Saturday there will be a special reception and alumni lunch in the centre of Groningen, with beautifully set tables running like a ribbon through the centre of the city. Alumni will also be able to watch a rowing event in the centre, visit the three exhibitions in the Der Aa Church, Groninger Museum and University Museum, and join in the celebrations at the big closing party. On the Sunday they will be able to visit their former cultural or sports association or attend ‘Aletta the Musical’ at the Stadsschouwburg Theatre.

Biggest student gala

The For Infinity month will open on Thursday 15 May with the biggest student gala ever, a party in a wonderful setting with music from bands and DJs revolving around the theme of Myster¿a. The gala is for students of the University of Groningen and the Hanze University of Applied Sciences and staff of the University of Groningen and UMCG. It promises to be an evening where nothing is what it seems and you should expect the unexpected.