The school serves approximately 2,800 students and has around 400 staff members. It emphasizes personalized coaching, small-scale learning environments, blended learning, international activities, and a safe school climate.
History
Secondary education in Uden traces its roots to 1743, when a Latin school was founded by the Cross Brothers (Kruisheren) of the Order of the Holy Cross.[circular reference] In 1886, the College of the Holy Cross (College van het Heilige Kruis) was established, initially focused on priestly training but later opening to lay students.
Following the 1968 Mammoetwet education reform, the school expanded to include havo in 1969 and developed into a full atheneum. In 1975, it split into separate entities (Kruisheren Kollege and Rivendell College), but in the 1990s, the Catholic and public streams merged under the Stichting voor Katholiek Voortgezet Onderwijs Uden (S.K.V.O.U.) to form the unified Udens College. The name honors the historical College of the Holy Cross and the Kruisheren legacy.
Campuses and facilities
Udens College operates on two main locations in Uden:
Vwo (6 years), including atheneum, gymnasium (classical languages), and vwo-plus projects
Vrijeschoolonderwijs (Waldorf/Steiner-inspired) for vmbo-t, havo, and vwo levels since around 2021, focusing on holistic development ("head, heart, and hands")
Key elements include personal mentoring, support teams, blended learning with digital tools, international exchanges (e.g., GLOBE environmental program, partnerships in Europe and Turkey), open days, MBO fairs, and charity events.
