In 1876 the
Rijkslandbouwschool (National Agricultural College) was established in Wageningen. Developing to training at a higher educational level in 1896 it changed its name to the
Hoogere Land- en Boschbouwschool (Agricultural and Forestry College) and in 1904 to
Rijks Hoogere Land-, Tuin- en Boschbouwschool (National Agricultural, Horticulture and Forestry College). In 1918 the school became an academic instruction by law (Academic Education Act). The name changed to
Rijks Landbouw Hoogeschool (National Agricultural College), which is currently celebrated as its dies natalis (foundation date) at 9 March 1918. In 1986 the research oriented "hogescholen" (comparable to research and scientific oriented
institute of technology or business schools) were renamed University in a modification of the Academic Education Act. The new name became
Landbouwuniversiteit Wageningen (LUW) (Wageningen Agricultural University (WAU)). Over the years the research and teaching branched out into life sciences in general. In 1997, when the agricultural research institutes (Dienst Landbouwkundig Onderzoek / Service of agricultural research) merged with the university, the new holding company was rebranded as Wageningen UR (Wageningen University and Research Centre); with the university being renamed Wageningen University. Under Dutch laws the university and the institutes had to remain separate legal entities. In 2006, the
university of applied sciences Van Hall Larenstein became part of Wageningen UR. The intention was to create better collaboration between applied teaching and research at Van Hall and the academic research at Wageningen University. This would also support students to continue with an academic program upon completing their applied degree. However, due to differences in organizational culture and incompatibility of procedures, the collaboration remained problematic. In 2012 it was decided that Van Hall Larenstein would leave Wageningen UR and continue as an independent school once more. In the spring of 2015 the separation was marked by the move of the final Wageningen-based Van Hall Larenstein studies back to
Velp. In 2009 it was decided that the university would use the English brand in its communication. University research could be presented under the name of either the university:
Wageningen University (WU), or under of the name Wageningen University and Research (WUR). On 6 September 2016 Wageningen University and the research institutes became one joint brand:
Wageningen University & Research (
WUR). On 9 March 2018 Wageningen University celebrated her 100 years anniversary. In 2018 many events and festivities around the campus and in the city of Wageningen were organised, and the university was presented with a
carillon installed at the main campus. ==Academic profile==