dr. Ad Verbrugge

About Ad Verbrugge

Ad Verbrugge is a philosopher, writer, publicist, and presenter-commentator for radio and television. He is known for programs such as Het Filosofisch kwintet and OBAlife at Human, covering topics related to society, culture, politics, ethics, and science. Verbrugge holds an independent and autonomous philosophical position in the Netherlands, where he critically reflects on the spirit of the times. He sheds light on the often concealed undercurrents within society in cultural, economic, and socio-political domains. He is the founder and chairman of the association Beter Onderwijs Nederland, which focuses on improving the quality of education. Additionally, he regularly publishes on current social and cultural issues in NRC, De Groene Amsterdammer, and other national media. Ad Verbrugge (1967) studied Philosophy at Leiden University and obtained his PhD in 1999. The Neglect of Being – a critical interpretation of Heidegger’s thought – was published in 2001. He is currently an associate professor at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, where he teaches Social and Cultural Philosophy and Philosophy of Economics. He has received the Teaching Award for the best lecturer of the year twice, in Leiden and Amsterdam. He is the coordinator of the research institute Iˆthos, established in 2015, which is a collaboration between Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and the private company Dasym, offering a Master’s program in Philosophy of Governance and Culture alongside research activities. In his first and successful essay collection, Time of Discontent (2004), he analyzes the problems of Western society as a ‘culture adrift’. This collection led to an invitation to curate a full evening program as a guest on Zomergasten in 2006. In 2013, the first part of the two-part work State of Confusion was published. State of Confusion is a renewed reflection on our time, characterized by conflicting values, faded ideals, and an uncertain future. Together with Gabriel van den Brink and Thijs Jansen, he is at the forefront of the societal discussion on professional ethics and the perverted management culture. The article ‘Damaged Professional Ethics’ by Verbrugge, in the book Professional Ethics – Why the Netherlands Doesn’t Work Well, also laid the foundation for the establishment of the association Beter Onderwijs Nederland (BON) in 2006. BON has received significant media attention and now has thousands of members and many supporters. The association has ensured that the quality and position of teachers and the overall improvement of education have become high on the political agenda. Ad Verbrugge regularly publishes in newspapers such as NRC and Volkskrant and weekly magazines like De Groene Amsterdammer, and gives interviews on various social themes on radio, television, and other magazines. He co-hosts the program Het Filosofisch Kwintet for Human on television and radio with Clairy Polak, is a panel member on a radio program by Wim Brands, and serves as an advisor for the program Buitenhof. Furthermore, Ad Verbrugge contributes to specific training programs, acts as a moderator, gives lectures and presentations, and advises on specific issues in healthcare, the financial world, and of course in education and science. Verbrugge is also a singer-songwriter; his first album ‘Nightplane’ was released in 2010. Due to his educational and administrative experience, Ad Verbrugge is a gifted speaker who knows how to capture the attention of audiences and participants. Complex topics are made accessible and understandable by him, inviting people to reflect critically on them. He naturally connects people playfully with the current events that concern them, while maintaining a sense of relativity and humor – society, economy, education, healthcare, and culture, and how they are organized and develop, are subjects on which Ad Verbrugge can provide engaging, inspiring, and tailored contributions.