Employees, students, interns, alumni, applicants, PhD candidates, freelancers, guest lecturers, volunteers, (sub)contractors and suppliers all have the right to report misconduct. This may include fraud or poor governance. The Whistleblower Policy 2025 (PDF, 12 p.p. in Dutch) outlines exactly what you can report, how to make a report, your rights in the process, and the follow-up procedure. 

Advice and support 

As a whistleblower, you can consult an adviser in confidence. An adviser can help you think through your situation and, if necessary, assist you in taking action. This adviser may also be someone external to the organisation, such as a lawyer, trade union representative, or legal aid provider. You can also seek information, advice, and support from a confidential adviser, the UvA Ombudsperson, or the advisory department of the House for Whistleblowers. 

Making an internal report 

If you suspect illegal or immoral practices at your work, you can first report it internally. This gives the UvA the opportunity to investigate and resolve the issue. You can contact the university’s Complaints Committee at klachtencommissie-uva@uva.nl. 

Making an external report 

You are not required to report illegal or immoral practices internally first. You may also report this directly to an authorised body, such as the Dutch Whistleblowers Authority (in Dutch: Huis voor Klokkenluiders) or the Dutch Data Protection Authority. 

Protection against retaliation 

The university may not retaliate against you for making a report, either during or after the investigation. This protection also applies if you report illegal or immoral practices to an external authority. 

Retaliation includes adverse actions such as dismissal, suspension, negative performance reviews, reassignment, defamation, or other forms of discrimination and intimidation. 

If you report illegal or immoral practices, you will receive protection. The whistleblower’s adviser and internal investigators of the report are also protected against detriment.