Erasmus University Rotterdam

ABOUT UNIVERSITY

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) is a public research university located in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Named after the 15th-century Christian humanist and theologian Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus, the university is known for its strong emphasis on research and academic excellence. One of its most prominent divisions is Erasmus MC, the university’s medical school and teaching hospital, which stands as one of the largest medical institutions in Western Europe and a leading center for medical care and trauma in the Netherlands.The university traces its origins back to November 8, 1913, when it was established as the Netherlands School of Commerce (Nederlandsche Handels-Hoogeschool, NHH) through private efforts and with strong support from the Rotterdam business community. In 1937, it achieved university status and was renamed the Netherlands School of Economics (Nederlandse Economische Hogeschool, NEH). In the 1960s, responding to the increasing complexity of society, the university expanded its academic offerings to include Law and Social Sciences. Later additions included Philosophy, History and Arts, and Business Administration.Efforts to establish a medical education program in Rotterdam began in 1950, led by the Foundation for Higher Clinical Education. These efforts resulted in the creation of the Medical Faculty Rotterdam in 1966, located next to Dijkzigt Hospital. The faculty, along with the Sophia Children’s Hospital and the Daniel den Hoed Clinic, formed what became the University Hospital Rotterdam. In 2003, this medical complex was renamed Erasmus MC. In 1973, the Medical Faculty Rotterdam merged with the Netherlands School of Economics, and the institution was officially named Erasmus University Rotterdam. It became the first university in the Netherlands named after an individual, reflecting Rotterdam’s long-standing academic and cultural connection to Erasmus. Today, the university is recognized globally for its contributions to education, research, and healthcare.