Hanze University of Applied Sciences, also known as Hanze UAS or Hanzehogeschool Groningen, stands as the largest vocational university in the northern Netherlands, with its campus situated in Groningen. Hanze UAS provides a wide range of Bachelor and Master programmes in multiple languages, and maintains strong collaborations with partner institutes worldwide. The school has an impressive student body of around 28,000 and a dedicated staff of 3,200. Around 8.1% of students come from abroad. Hanze University of Applied Sciences has a rich history, with its roots dating back to 1798. It was established through the merger of several local institutes for professional education, including the prestigious Academie Minerva. This makes Hanze UAS one of the first multi-sectoral institutes for practical higher education in the Netherlands. The Academy Minerva’s mission was to enhance drawing, construction, and nautical sciences, along with related arts and sciences, for people from all walks of life. Their focus was particularly on empowering those who faced disadvantages by improving their skills.[4] Over the centuries that followed, numerous institutions emerged, each specializing in various fields. In 1986, Groningen became the first city in the Netherlands where 16 out of the 24 vocational schools merged into a larger institute, following the recommendations outlined in the government paper “Expansion, Division of Tasks, and Concentration in the Higher Educational System.” As a result, Hanze rapidly emerged as one of the largest Universities of Applied Sciences in the country, with data indicating continuous growth year after year.In 1989, the university made the wise decision to join the prestigious Erasmus Programme. And in 2014, Hanze University of Applied Sciences proudly became the holder of the Erasmus Charter of Higher Education 2014–2020, solidifying its commitment to excellence in education. The Hanze University of Applied Sciences (Hanze UAS) has a historical connection to the Hanseatic League, a powerful trading alliance in the Netherlands. Groningen, the city that housed most of the university’s facilities, was a proud member of the Hanseatic League from 1282 to 1669. Hanze University of Applied Sciences strategically locates its major facilities in Groningen, while also maintaining minor ones in Amsterdam (Dance Academy), Assen (Hanze Institute of Technology), and Leeuwarden (Pop Culture). The building known as ZP11 Van DoorenVeste All of the other 16 schools can be found in the city of Groningen. All major facilities, except for the oldest one, the Academy Minerva, are located in the Zernike Campus, named after Frits Zernike, in the city center. This expansive region situated north of the city, specifically in the Noordwest district, houses esteemed Hanze institutions as well as facilities affiliated with the University of Groningen, the esteemed research university of the city. The campus has an impressive student population of around 60,000.