It runs in the family: studying at UM
In 1976, the first students took their seats in the lecture halls of Maastricht University (UM). Fifty years later, they have long since graduated, and many now have children and even grandchildren. In the meantime, countless generations of students have followed, forming a steadily growing community of UM alumni. It is quite possible that current students and alumni are related to other alumni. In our anniversary year, we therefore set out to find ‘UM generations’: families in which multiple generations have studied in Maastricht. In the photo stories below, they share their experiences at the university.
Sandra Kuipers-Savelkoul
Sandra Kuipers-Savelkoul werd geboren 9 januari 1976... Op precies dezelfde dag dat Koningin Juliana de oprichtingsakte van de Universiteit MaastrichtSandra Kuipers-Savelkoul was born on 9 January 1976… On exactly the same day that Queen Juliana signed the founding document of Maastricht University!
Sandra began her Law studies at UM in 1994 and graduated in 1999. This year, the year in which both the university and Sandra have turned 50, she is graduating from UM once again. This time, she has earned her diploma from the part-time programme in Strategy, Leadership and Change at UMIO.
Double congratulations, Sandra!
Mother Sandrine and son Marijn
Sandrine van de Pol began her medical studies at UM in 1993. In 2026, her son Marijn Wiemer started his bachelor’s degree in European Public Health. He now lives in the same building where his mother once had her student accommodation. For Sandrine, it is very special to be involved in student life in Maastricht again. She even sometimes feels a sense of nostalgia for her own time at UM!
Father and son Swerts
Pierre Swerts (1956) began studying Medicine in 1978 at the then Rijksuniversiteit Limburg (RUL). A month after graduating in 1984, his son Sebastiaan was born. Sebastiaan Swerts studied International Business at the School of Business and Economics (SBE) at UM, where he also completed his Master’s in Strategic Marketing.
Both Pierre and Sebastiaan experienced a great deal of freedom and independence thanks to UM’s Problem-Based Learning approach. This method of study gave them ample time for activities alongside their studies.
After working in pulmonology, orthopaedics and sports medicine, Pierre eventually became an occupational health physician with his own practice in Beegden. He has since retired. Sebastiaan began his career at Philips (Healthcare) and now works in high-tech horticulture as Manager Service Delivery at Grodan in Roermond, part of ROCKWOOL.
The Schols family
Maria Schols-Sinnema and Jos Schols both studied at UM. Four of their five children are also UM alumni.
Jos Schols studied Medicine at UM from 1977 to 1983. He initially worked as a specialist in geriatric medicine and as a manager in the care sector. He obtained his PhD at UM in 2000 and spent the second half of his career as Professor of Geriatric Medicine at the university, until his retirement in 2024.
Maria Schols-Sinnema studied Medicine at UM from 1978 to 1984 and now works as a specialist in elderly care medicine.
Jos Schols at his graduation ceremony in 1983. Maria Schols-Sinnema at her graduation ceremony in 1984.
Laurens-Alexander Schols did not study at UM. He works as a pilot and also as an A&E doctor at Spaarne Gasthuis in the Haarlem area.
Rutger Schols studied Medicine at UM from 2005 to 2011 and subsequently obtained his PhD there. He is a plastic surgeon and works at Maastricht UMC+, Zuyderland Medical Centre and UZ Brussels; he is also Professor of Plastic Surgery at UZ Brussels.
Floris Schols studied International Business at UM from 2007 to 2012 and works in the business sector.
Myrthe Schols studied Health Sciences at UM from 2012 to 2016 and now works as an owner-entrepreneur in the hospitality industry.
Emma Schols studied Medicine at UM from 2018 to 2024 and now works as a junior doctor in A&E in Harderwijk.
Myrthe, Floris, Jos, Maria, Laurens-Alexander, Rutger and Emma Schols at the farewell lecture of Jos Schols as Professor of Geriatric Medicine at UM (2024).
The Laumen family
Marco Laumen studied Business Economics at UM from 1990 to 1995. During his studies, he met his wife Danielle, who was studying Medicine at UM and later became a general practitioner. Together they had two sons, who, like their parents, are pursuing their education in Maastricht. Gijs (24) is studying Law. In 2025, he was a board member of the Law Faculty Association Ouranos. Max (21) has completed his Bachelor’s degree in International Business and began his Master’s programme in February 2026. Marco also returned to the lecture halls: in 2020, he started his postgraduate training Registered Controller at UMIO, part of UM. Danielle sadly passed away in 2022.
Your UM story
Do you also have a special connection with UM and would you like to share your experience? Get in touch via webred-um@maastrichtuniversity.nl and tell us. Your story could be featured on this website too.