An Amsterdam University student society has again become embroiled in scandal after female students were called ‘whores’ and ‘semen buckets’ at a celebratory event to mark its 170th anniversary.

The ASC, or Amsterdam Studenten Corps, and its female arm AVSV, were celebrating in separate halls in the capital when four male speakers were overheard issuing a string of obscenities about women, and led members in chanting of ‘whore, whore, whore’.

Some of the speeches were captured on video and placed online.

Some 270 female members have now written to the fraternity board, saying they are ‘done with this sexist behaviour’, local broadcaster AT5 reported.

‘In a year where culture change has been central and many dialogues have taken place about sexual intimidation, macho culture and a lack of respect in general, the undersigned experience what was said during the speeches as insulting, shameful and sad,’ the female students wrote.

The society’s president Heleen Vos has since told members she was ‘shocked and hurt’ and saddened that the fraternity had ‘once again attracted negative publicity’ and announced an independent investigation into the reports.

The ASC dates from 1851 and is the biggest student society in the Netherlands with 2,700 members. It was forced to halt its hazing rituals last year amid reports of abuse and intimidation when a number of students were injured.

Student clubs

There are 48 student associations at the country’s 13 universities. Their public image  is one of bizarre and dangerous initiation ceremonies, odd outfits, heavy drinking and a place where the foundations for a useful network are laid for future high flyers.

Many student associations also have their own fraternity and sorority houses and competition to be accepted can be fierce.

In 2016 student societies were included on the list of Dutch non-material traditions, sharing the honour with, for example, the annual election of the Cheese Queen.

The student societies ‘contribute to a lively, dynamic culture which fosters social cohesion and are important for the identity of many students in the Netherlands,’ the Dutch cultural heritage centre VIE said at the time.

The oldest association in the Netherlands is the Groninger Studenten Corps Vindicat atque Polit which was founded in 1815 and has also been embroiled in a number of scandals of its own.

All societies have Latin mottoes. That of Amsterdam society at the centre of the sexism scandal is Honestum Petimus Usque’, which means ‘Always striving for what is honourable’.