Become a member of SURF
SURF is a cooperative with more than 100 members. These are all state-funded Dutch universities and UMCs, most higher professional and intermediate vocational education institutions and various research institutions including NWO and KNAW institutes.
The educational and research institutions work together within SURF to make full use of the opportunities offered by digitisation.
Conditions for participation
An organisation that wishes to become a member of SURF must meet the following conditions:
- The institution's core activity is education and/or research, or makes a substantial contribution to it;
- The organisation or institution is a contracting authority within the meaning of the Tender Act 2012 (or the legislation and regulations that replace it).
This does not mean that every organisation that meets the conditions is automatically accepted. The Board decides, with the approval of the Members' Council, whether an institution can join and how the representation for that institution is to be arranged (this in relation to the voting proportions in the Members' Council).
The decision-making process of the Members' Council
SURF is of and for the members. If an organisation becomes a member of SURF, it will be involved in the decision-making process. The organisation is assigned to one of the departments of the Members' Council, which takes decisions on behalf of the members. The voices of all members are therefore heard.
Contact us
Is your institution considering joining SURF? Please contact us via the contact details below.
What does the SURF membership declaration mean?
Each institution admitted as a member signs a Lidmaatschapsverklaring SURF (PDF, 141 kB - Dutch only). This contains the agreements on cooperation within the cooperative and the definition of SURF's service portfolio.
If a member no longer meets the conditions for membership, SURF expects to be informed within a period of one month.
From 13 October 2021, new General Terms and Conditions of Membership of Coöperatie SURF U.A. (PDF, 531 kB - Dutch only) will apply.
Who signs for membership of SURF on behalf of the institution?
One (if independently qualified) or more (if jointly qualified) director(s) of the institution.
Who can cancel the membership?
A member may terminate membership with immediate effect, but shall remain liable to pay the membership fee for the year in which the membership is terminated. Upon termination of the membership, the purchase obligations that existed or would irrevocably arise at that time on the basis of the service agreement(s) with the operating companies shall remain in force.
SURF may only terminate membership if a member no longer meets the conditions or if SURF can no longer reasonably be asked to continue membership. Termination requires a decision by the Board with the approval of the Members' Council.
How much is the annual membership fee?
The membership fee varies per department and within that department per member. For educational institutions, the number of students is a factor. For other institutions, the number of full-time employees and the government contribution are taken into account. There is no one general formula for all members.
What is the contribution paid to SURF used for?
The membership fee is used for the cooperative's business operations and partly for the innovation programmes in the SURF Long-Term Agenda.
What are the membership conditions?
- General Terms and Conditions of Membership of Coöperatie SURF U.A. (PDF, 531 kB - Dutch only)