Hester Bijl is departing from her position as rector magnificus of Leiden University to take on the leadership role at TU Delft, her alma mater. This decision comes after a period marked by controversies and challenges during her tenure in Leiden.

Bijl’s time at Leiden was recently punctuated by an awkward confrontation captured on camera by EO (Evangelical Broadcasting), in which former politician Rob Oudkerk questioned her about a Leiden lecturer who had previously called for the bombing of Tel Aviv. The incident sparked a minor scandal, with Bijl’s response and the university’s handling of the situation drawing criticism.

Earlier, Bijl was involved in another controversy dubbed ‘#kunstgate,’ stemming from the demonstrative removal of a painting depicting former university board members from the Academiegebouw (Academy Building). The action, intended as a “playful action” by the university, angered the still-living artist and ignited a media storm, with political figures weighing in on the matter. The university eventually reinstalled the painting.

Bijl’s departure also follows mounting unrest at Leiden University over the Palestinian issue. She faced accusations of being too distant and struggling to manage the situation effectively, with incidents of injuries and students being chased by security guards during demonstrations.

Despite these challenges, Bijl is moving on to lead TU Delft, the university where she first became interested in engineering as a child. She leaves Leiden with “mixed feelings” after facing criticism regarding the university’s cooperation with Israel and dealing with the aftermath of October 7 and the Gaza conflict.

Prior to becoming rector in Leiden, Bijl had a distinguished career at TU Delft, where she became the first female professor of aerospace engineering. Throughout her career, she has been a strong advocate for emancipation and increasing the representation of women in science. In Leiden, she also addressed several cases of misconduct by senior scientists.