In the night from Saturday 30 May to Sunday 31 May, lecturer in Administrative Law Saskia Hillegers passed away at the age of 53 after a short illness. Last summer she became seriously ill and, at times, she was still able to continue working, but in recent weeks her condition declined rapidly. Michiel Tjepkema, professor and head of the Administrative Law department, wrote the following in memoriam.
“Saskia was the undisputed matriarch of the Administrative Law department and a connecting force in the truest sense of the word. Few colleagues have served the Radboud University for as long as she did. She started on 1 April 1993 as a student assistant. She excelled in the work for the department, particularly in her contact with students in courses; teaching was truly her calling. Together with Tycho Lam, she taught the Administrative Law course within the Notarial Law programme for many years, lectured in the courses Advanced Administrative Law and Environmental Law, supervised countless master's theses and, above all, was deeply devoted to the first-year course Constitutional and Administrative Law, which she coordinated for many years. She also coached numerous Nijmegen teams for the VAR pleading competition, achieving first prize in 2025 (an award she had previously won herself as a member of the Nijmegen student team).
In addition to her work as a lecturer, she produced numerous publications in the field of environmental law, including various case notes in journals such as Milieu en Recht, Administratiefrechtelijke Beslissingen and De Gemeentestem. She also served for many years as an editor of the latter journal. She was one of the initiators of the SteR volume Trust in the Environment and Planning Act and, a year before she became ill, she published an article in the Nederlands Juristenblad on diffuse decision-making concerning emergency reception locations, together with colleagues Broeksteeg, Geertsema and Zwaan. She was also co-author of the first-year textbook Core Principles of Administrative Law. In terms of governance and administration, she served for many years on the Faculty Education Committee and was a member of the Objections Committee of the municipality of ’s-Hertogenbosch.
Saskia was an exceptionally kind and warm person, appreciated for her gentle nature and the affection she showed to everyone she worked with. She was highly regarded within our faculty. Her colleagues in the Administrative Law department are deeply saddened by her passing.”
Michiel Tjepkema
Professor and Head of the Administrative Law Department
On behalf of the Faculty Board, Dean Frits-Joost Beekhoven van den Boezem extends his sincere condolences to Saskia’s family, loved ones and colleagues. “With Saskia’s passing, the faculty loses a valued colleague, a familiar face and, above all, a wonderful person. The Faculty Board wishes everyone who loved her much strength and comfort during this difficult time.”
Frits-Joost Beekhoven van den Boezem
Dean Faculty of Law