Sanne de Vries appointed professor by special appointment at Leiden University

Medical Delta chair Sanne de Vries has been appointed professor by special appointment at Leiden University. As of 1 September 2025, she will hold the special chair Physical Activity in Youth as the Foundation for a Healthy Life at LUMC.

She combines this position with her current roles as chair of Medical Delta and as professor of Healthy Lifestyle in a Stimulating Environment (GLSO) at The Hague University of Applied Sciences.

A generation that moves too little

One in five children lacks sufficient motor skills, according to large-scale research involving nearly 230,000 primary school pupils. In addition, almost half of all young people do not meet the physical activity guidelines. This lack of exercise has far-reaching consequences: from an increased risk of overweight and psychosocial problems to poorer academic performance and reduced social development.

‘It won’t simply resolve itself,’ says De Vries. ‘We live in a society where sitting has become the norm. To reverse this trend, more knowledge and innovation are needed to support young people in developing and maintaining an active lifestyle.’

Research, collaboration and practical interventions

With her special chair, De Vries focuses on developing integrated strategies and interventions that encourage children and young people to be structurally more active. In doing so, she explicitly seeks collaboration between science, practice, and society.

A concrete example of this is the MQ Scan, a motor skills test now conducted annually in more than 1,100 primary schools in the Netherlands. This test provides insight into motor development and offers guidance for targeted support, enabling children to receive earlier and better assistance.

Physical inactivity is a “wicked problem” influenced by many factors and stakeholders. By developing and testing interventions together with children, young people, parents, schools, municipalities, and professionals, De Vries aims to contribute to a sustainable improvement in population health and to reducing health inequalities.

“My mission is to support children and young people at every stage of their youth in developing an active lifestyle. Only by working together – with parents, schools, professionals, and the young people themselves – can we build a healthier generation.”

Sanne de Vries combines this chair with her current position as professor of Healthy Lifestyle in a Stimulating Environment (GLSO) at The Hague University of Applied Sciences. The chair was established by The Hague University of Applied Sciences and is hosted at LUMC/Leiden University. She is also closely involved with the Health Campus in The Hague. In addition, since 1 August she has been chair of Medical Delta.

Read more:

Sanne de Vries appointed professor by special appointment at Leiden University | The Hague University of Applied Sciences
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In 2023, Sanne was appointed Medical Delta professor of applied sciences. In the video below, she talks about her research: