Gripping answers to 400 questions from the public

On Wednesday 2 April, tickets will go on sale for the last two parts of the RUG400 programme: the large-scale public programme 400 days for 400 questions and The Night of Art & Science. This completes the programme of celebrations marking the 400th anniversary of the University of Groningen. Information about the full programme can be found on www.rug400.nl Tickets for all the events are also available via this site.

From 15 May to 15 June, the University of Groningen will be bursting with festivities and special events to celebrate its 400th anniversary. All these events have been devised around the RUG400 theme, For Infinity (4∞). They include science, theatre, music, film and sport; a varied programme with something for everyone.

400 days for 400 questions

In honour of the University’s 400th anniversary, people were asked to submit questions to experts on the inside. More than 400 questions were received, all of which will be answered during lectures, experiments, kids’ cafés and the Children’s University, lectures aimed at youngsters and the Pre-University Academy, bike tours and a family day. 400 days for 400 questions is an extensive programme for the people of Groningen, Friesland and Drenthe, which will last for the duration of the month-long festivities. (Photo: Sacha de Boer).

The Night of Art & Science

For the fifth time in its history, on the night of Saturday 24 May, Groningen will become the bustling capital of art and science with a spectacular programme of theatre, experiments, lectures, dance, art, workshops and plenty of music. Fifteen special locations in the centre of the city have been chosen. The 400 questions will play a major part in The Night as well. Questions will be answered and each Night location will have its own theme to correspond with the 400 questions.

The outdoor locations are freely accessible but you will need tickets for the indoor locations. Tickets cost € 10 if you buy them in advance and € 15 on the night.

RUG400 highlights

The elaborate RUG400 programme features daily events on a large and small scale: the spectacular musical theatre show For Infinity, a ten-day outdoor show produced in association with theatre company Noord Nederlands Toneel (NNT); the Masquerade ‘Move it!’, an art project for students and townsfolk; the Gift for Infinity, activities relating to the ‘Let old be gold’ research project; the Bommen Bootrace (an Aegon City Rowing Event), a rowing race between Groningen and Münster; For Infinity Exhibitions, three exhibitions in Der Aa Church, University Museum and the Groninger Museum; and last but certainly not least, the For Infinity Final Party on the Grote Markt, Vismarkt and Waagplein, heralding the spectacular end of four weeks of festivities.

Gift for Infinity

The entire RUG400 month revolves around the Gift for Infinity: a research project chosen by the public as a gift for the future. Under the Motto ‘Let old be gold’, Prof. Ronald Stolk’s team will try to discover why some people continue to take an active part in society into old age while others do not. And whether we could alter this situation by changing the way we organize voluntary work. Everyone is invited to contribute to the Gift for Infinity. If you want to know how or would like more information, go to: www.rug400.nl/giftforinfinity