‘The campus will be filled with music again’, Erasmus skybridge finally reopens to everyone

Renovation works on the skybridge have been taken place over the past eighteen months after years of ‘poor maintenance’, according to university representatives. As a matter of fact, after asbestos was found during the renovations the university was forced to shut down the whole area – including the carillon tower that played music on a daily basis for the university. On Wednesday, the bridge was officially reopened with a special ceremony.

More about the skybridge and the carillon

• Campus bells ring again after a year of silence
• EUR’s bells have not been rung for nearly five months now
• University to take legal action against asbestos company
• Part of the campus closed after possible release of asbestos
• Mandeleplein air bridge off limits for several more months

Since the iconic carillon tower has been closed the campus has been a little quieter, and no one had been more affected than Mathieu Polak – the official carillonist of the university. During the reopening ceremony, Mathieu was invited to play the carillon again after more than a year. He couldn’t be any more content: “It really affected me to know that this place would be closed for such a long time. Currently I am really happy to resume my duty as carillonist again, and hopefully welcome any new student interested in learning the instrument”.

Special guest

During the opening, Emeritus Professor of Econometrics Jean Paelinck also attended the ceremony as special guest after he donated his own grand piano to the university. The instrument is now placed in the skybridge, open for any student to use and play. “I think the best contribution to the university I can make is to give my piano and make students happier. Of course, I am also really glad to be at this ceremony today!”

Illustrious skills

To complement the whole event three EUR students, Nour Mahmoud, Michael Hiskiyahu and Bonno Getz, were invited to be the first students to play the new grand piano. Each student showed their skills playing the piano in front of the invited guests.

“Honestly, I think this is one of the best things that has happened on campus for a long time” admits Psychology student and pianist Nour Mahmoud (19). “At EUR we barely have any music associations, and I am very grateful for the gift of this public piano. This will definitely become one of my favourite places in the campus”. Was she nervous playing in front of all the ceremony attendees? “Yes, a little bit. But before I started I looked back and waved and they laughed. After that I knew it was fine if I were to screw up.”

Frederieke Hoitink from Studium Generale, who organised the event, was also impressed by the renovation, and even more by the gift from professor Jean Paelinck. “I couldn’t believe it when he decided to give us his beautiful piano. I am sure many students will take the opportunity to enjoy it. Jean really wanted this for free, so all students are more than welcome to play here.”