We decided not only to establish our fund in our will, but to set it up during our lifetime, while we are still alive.
Eveline van der Valk en Peter van den Hul
Ondernemers en EUR alumni
Eveline van der Valk and Peter van den Hul studied at EUR and fell in love there. Their time at university brought them a wonderful family and thriving careers. Both alumni consider themselves fortunate to be able to give something back: the Van den Hul–Van der Valk Fund provides scholarships to disadvantaged students. Eveline and Peter refer to the fund as ''our fifth child''.
It was a special encounter in the late 1980s. Eveline van der Valk and Peter van den Hul were standing together in the lift of the Tinbergen building at Erasmus University Rotterdam. Peter was a young business administration student, Eveline was about to graduate in economics. They knew each other vaguely from De Gouden Leeuw in Voorschoten, Eveline's parents' hotel-restaurant where Peter earned some extra money as a waiter. On campus, the spark was ignited.
Inspired by another fund
''I had fallen in love with Peter, but also with Rotterdam,'' says Eveline. "So when the family bought a hotel in Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel, I immediately raised my hand. 'Dad,“ I said, 'give me the keys!'' I was 27 years old and was given the trust. With my academic knowledge and the practical experience I grew up with, I succeeded. Also thanks to my father-in-law, who knows a lot about organisations and employee behaviour." Peter: ''We spent entire nights talking about it, as I had often done at home. After graduating, I started working at ABN AMRO, where I laid a broad financial foundation. After that, I also started working at Van der Valk.''
Peter remained involved with his alma mater, helping to turn the Erasmus Pavilion into a thriving meeting place with a restaurant and theatre. Eveline temporarily lost sight of the university. ''Until we were invited to the launch of the Niessen Schmitz Fund, set up by two alumni under the banner of the Erasmus University Rotterdam Fund. They use it to finance research that can make a difference for vulnerable young people in society. Incredibly inspiring. We knew immediately: we want that too!''
Accelerated after a poor diagnosis
While the couple was considering their options, tragedy struck. Eveline was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, a disease with a very limited life expectancy. ''That's when everything started to happen very quickly,'' says Eveline. "I started thinking about what I still wanted to do and how I would leave my loved ones behind. We decided not only to establish our fund in our will, but to set it up during our lifetime, while we were still alive. We chose two causes. Firstly, we support research into the treatment of pancreatic cancer at UMC Utrecht, where I am being treated. Secondly, we help young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to study at Erasmus University Rotterdam. Precisely because the university has given us so much, we want to give this opportunity to others too."
With this in mind, Eveline and Peter set up the Van den Hul-Van der Valk Fund, which is housed at the Erasmus University Rotterdam Fund. Peter: ''They have arranged everything perfectly. The fund finances scholarships for people who, due to their place of birth or other circumstances, are unable to study. It's wonderful to do and hopefully we will inspire other alumni.'' Eveline: ''We call the fund ''our fifth child''. Our four real children are fully behind it.'' And there is more positive news: Eveline is now doing wonderfully well. ''Hope and life'' were the words with which Peter and she officially launched the Van den Hul-Van der Valk Fund on 12 January 2025.