45 Years of the Faculty of Law
In 2026, the Faculty of Law at Maastricht University will celebrate its 45th anniversary. What began in 1982 with one hundred students from the region has grown into one of the most international law faculties in Europe — a faculty with a close-knit community, an innovative spirit, and a forward-looking vision.
In 2026, the Faculty of Law will celebrate its 45th anniversary. Forty-five years in which generations of students and scholars have contributed to knowledge, progress, and societal change. Since the first staff members arrived in 1981, the faculty has developed into an innovative and internationally oriented academic institution. Maastricht has a rich legal history dating back at least eight centuries, and the establishment of the Faculty of Law has further enriched this heritage.
Over the years, the faculty has grown into a leading institution for legal education and research in the Netherlands and Europe. What began with 99 students – almost all from the local region – has evolved into one of the most international law faculties in Europe. Today, the faculty counts 3,400 students from 44 countries and 420 staff members, who together work towards excellence in education, research, and societal impact. The distinctive atmosphere of engagement, small-scale learning, and genuine personal interest that characterised the faculty from the very beginning remains at its heart today.
Our anniversary year is not only a moment to reflect on the past, but also to look ahead. What we celebrate is the strength of our community: students, staff, and alumni who together have laid the foundations of who we are today. As we honour our history, we also focus on the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Higher education is constantly evolving, and our faculty continues to adapt, innovate, and contribute to society. The successes we have achieved in recent decades through innovative teaching and international research strengthen our conviction that the first 45 years are only the beginning. Maastricht is ready for the future.
“For 45 years, our faculty has been known for innovation, engagement, and international collaboration. We are proud of our students, staff, and alumni who together have shaped this remarkable history.”
— Prof. Jan Smits, Dean of the Faculty of Law
🏛️ A look back at our history
The establishment of the Dutch Law programme at the Rijksuniversiteit Limburg marked the beginning of the faculty as we know it today. Preparations started in the late 1970s, following a visit by the Leiden Bureau for Educational Research to Maastricht’s medical faculty. This visit led to the creation of the Committee for the Preparation of the Dutch Law Degree Programme on 11 September 1980, chaired by Paul Thung. This committee laid the foundations for the new Dutch Law curriculum.
From September 1981 onwards, the first staff members were appointed to develop the programme and design the curriculum. A year later, on 6 September 1982, the programme officially launched with 99 students in what is now the School of Business and Economics (SBE) building on Tongersestraat.
The Faculty of Law was officially established in May 1984 as the ninth law faculty in the Netherlands, although its foundations had already been laid in 1981. As the dean notes: “In the end, a faculty is shaped by the people who work there.”
More about the faculty’s history and development can be found in the anniversary book Onconventionele juristen by Mariken Lenaerts (2017), which describes the faculty’s unique characteristics and its impact on legal education.
📚 What makes our faculty unique?
Our faculty has become renowned for its Problem-Based Learning (PBL) approach, in which students work in small groups on realistic legal cases. This teaching method encourages active learning and collaboration, and prepares students for professional practice.
In addition, the faculty has a strong international outlook, with students and staff from many different countries and a wide range of English-taught programmes. This creates a dynamic and multicultural learning environment.
🎊 Anniversary activities
We will celebrate the 45th anniversary with and for our own community. Wherever possible, we will connect the celebrations to existing annual events, which this year will take place in the spirit of our anniversary. At the same time, we will organise several special activities to mark this milestone together.
The programme is being developed thanks to the dedication, ideas, and involvement of our staff and students, and offers opportunities for connection, inspiration, and collaboration. Together, we will make this anniversary year one that not only celebrates our history, but also sets the course for the future.
Anniversary timeline
In this anniversary year, we look back together on 45 years of the Faculty of Law. Every month, we add a new moment to this timeline: from special events and milestones to personal stories. In this way, the overview grows along with our anniversary year.
45 years of the Faculty of Law
