Measures against heat at introduction weeks for first-year students

The organizers of the introduction weeks for first-year students that started on Monday are taking extra measures against the heat. In Groningen, Utrecht, and Leiden, the new students are starting their introductions to their fellow students and the city they’ll be studying in.

Water taps have been placed at the registration points for the KEI week in Groningen to offer first-years some cooling. “We call on the students to drink enough, put on sunscreen, and seek out the shade,” said a spokesperson. “Fortunately, our sports events are not until Wednesday. Then it won’t be so hot anymore. Today, they do not have to move very much. We have an information market on the Vismarkt. The stalls there also offer some shade.”

The organization is also providing free water taps at the EL CID in Leiden. “We have sent everyone a push message that they should drink enough,” said one of the students organizing the information week. “Today is not really an active day. There is an information market on the Nieuwe Rijn and they are having lunch in the Van der Werfpark and the Plantsoen. There is enough shade there.” The sports component of the EL CID, a water sports market and bouncy castle festival, is on Tuesday. Students can also carry out a series of assignments to get to know Leiden better later in the week.

First-year students in Utrecht also have access to water and extra shade to protect them from overheating. “We are handing out sunscreen and keeping in touch with the safety authority, the municipality, and the weather bureau,” said a spokesperson for UIT, as the introduction week is called there. The sports components are scheduled for Tuesday. “We are keeping a close eye on whether that is possible or whether we need to make it less intensive.”

The introduction weeks in other student cities will start later this week or next week.