If he were dead (and for the record, we’re quite happy he isn’t) our editor-in-chief would turn in his grave in disapproval a dozen times. That beautiful vintage THE lamp, swapped for a piece of glass and a bunch of paper. Still, it’s a bona fide glass anniversary tankard from The Social (there you go, in stately capitals once) of Van der Waals. It’s adorned with a brand new association sticker, and an accompanying booklet describing 35 years of socials.

They’ve learnt how to clean up a bit after two moves in a little more than three years’ time. Especially for the move from N-laag to their previous temporary home in Cascade, the students have had to cut their collection of association property. Still, over the past three years Van der Waals has managed to collect “a few dumpsters worth of junk”, association chairman Roderick van Gild must admit. “We’re not good at throwing stuff away.”

The most important historical item owned by the association are their board medals, modelled after the Nobel Prize medal won by physicist Johannes Diderik van der Waals. The template of the medal was donated to the association by Van der Waals’ son. Roderick: “We’re extremely careful with our medals. If we ever lose those, we would have made a giant mistake in guarding our association property.”

The engraved bronze medals are secured in a safe and are used for special occasions only. Very carefully, using the accompanying ribbon, as touching the medals is a no-go, even for those who wear it. “They’d wear otherwise”, says Roderick. Older study associations are well aware of that rule especially, says Roderick. “Breaking the rule warrants a punch.” Social treasurer Robin Elich adds: “Japie might be strictest, as they prevent anyone from coming near the medals. Watching them is pretty much out of bounds.”

Since early this year, Van der Waals resides next door to Thor - where the physics association has its roots. The associations have a good rapport thanks to “a little common sense”, according to Roderick. The neighbours are visited regularly, either to borrow something or to get something done. Robin: “Their members are just a bit more skilful. Whenever I need something soldered, Thor has the people to do it.”

Van der Waals, which now has six hundred members, has settled comfortably in Flux. “People come by more easily because we’re closer to everything. Nobody ever needed to be in Cascade, really.”

The distinctive N-laag building that used to be in this spot is barely missed, although Robin does have a piece from the green wall at home, taken from the demolished building. The last social in N-laag was quite legendary, however, says Roderick: “Fridges had to be emptied since we were about to move.” The official end time of the social was eleven p.m., but it wasn’t before dawn that all the fridges had been emptied.

Surely, that story is included in Zoveel dagen, zoveel zonden (so many days, so many sins), an anthology of Van der Waals socials, published for their 35th anniversary in 2013. The book features a number of regulars including former dean Klaas Kopinga, who still frequents the drinks. He will order an Erdinger Weissbier and drink it from his personal glass. He no longer has his own table, “there’s no room for that here in Flux”.

The tankard was designed for the Oktoberfest in their anniversary year, and according to Roderick there are only fifty of them, give or take. An absolute must-have, if you ask the gentlemen. Robin considers Japie’s F.O.R.T. Committee as the most obvious recipient. “We play at marbles every year.” “And they have a wide selection of special beers”, Roderick adds. Still, it’s not as extensive as Van der Waals’ range of special beers, they add hurriedly. Then, proudly, they point out they don’t have beer on draught in their bar. Robin: “We want people to have a look at our menu and choose, rather than opt for whatever’s on draught”.

No draught beer then, but they did score a wonderful vintage university item.

And now we have a tankard and an anthology up for grabs. Anyone at Japie or anywhere else at TU/e who’s interested in this must-have/urban legend collection can drop us a line. We’ll gladly visit.