In the renovated intensive care unit of the WKZ parents will soon be able to be with their sick child day and night
In their pediatric and neonatal ICU wards, the Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital is making the switch from ward nursing to single rooms, with the option for parents to be with their sick child 24/7. This offers both the children and their parents more peace, space and privacy.
The parent-child rooms are part of a major renovation at the WKZ. Construction has begun and the wards will open in phases in 2026 and 2027. In total, the new rooms will allow about 3,500 families a year to be together day and night. The demand for parent-child rooms in the WKZ came not only from parents, but also from the medical staff, says Jorien Huisman. She is director of the Friends UMC Utrecht & Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital Foundation. Research shows that treatment in a private room with fewer stimuli contributes to faster recovery of the child or baby, she explains. Furthermore, this type of room is good for better bonding between parent and baby, for example because skin-to-skin contact is easier.
Huisman describes what the rooms should look like. On one side of the room will be all the medical equipment needed to treat the child. On the other side will be the parents’ area. That will include a bed and a closet. Through a fundraiser, the WKZ hopes to eventually pay for all the furniture in the rooms.
For more information or a donation go to: https://vriendenumcutrecht-wkz.nl/ouder-kindkamers/
‘USP WorkWalks’ breaks through sedentary patterns and now also receives national recognition with the BeweegAward
The Dutch sit an average of nine hours a day, making them the “European Champion of Sitting,” which is detrimental to health and performance. USP WorkWalks, an inspiring initiative by HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht in collaboration with Utrecht University, the municipality of Utrecht, and the Utrecht Science Park Foundation, is breaking this pattern. The initiative has now also received national recognition. The initiators received the 2025 Exercise Award from State Secretary Judith Tielen (Health, Welfare and Sport) on Friday, January 16th. In addition to various administrators and guests, Alderwoman Eva Oosters and artist and ambassador of the ‘BeweegAlliantie’ Antje Monteiro were present at the award ceremony.
The Coïmbrapad is set to change. And you can vote on the design.
The Coïmbrapad, the small square between the SPAR and the University Library, will have a new look this spring. Everyone can vote for one of the two designs currently on the table. One of the initiators, Rania Shehata, explains why this is needed.
Works on the tram track at Padualaan in Utrecht Science Park
To make public transport future-proof, Strukton is carrying out works on the tram track on Padualaan in Utrecht Science Park on behalf of the Province of Utrecht. In mid-January, works on the track will start near Weg tot de Wetenschap, just beyond the tram stop.
Wennink plan: Life Sciences and biotechnology are important growth drivers for the earning capacity of the Netherlands
The Dutch Life Sciences and biotechnology sector can make a much larger contribution to the Netherlands’ economic strength. This is shown in a new growth strategy presented today as part of Peter Wennink’s advisory report. The report also highlights Utrecht Science Park as one of the key innovation locations and sources of progress and growth.