The university already prints PVC employee cards, so the infrastructure for physical cards already exists. Our proposal is simple: let students opt in to one of these cards, at their own expense, to cover manufacturing costs.

• Students request it themselves. No one is issued a card who doesn't want one — this stays entirely opt-in, funded by a small fee (1–10 EUR) rather than by the university.
• Same production line, same materials. The university wouldn't need to build new infrastructure — just extend the existing PVC card process to students who request one.
• Doubles as a printing/access pass. Employee cards already serve this function, so a student version could work the same way.

This isn't just a nice-to-have. Of the 75 students who responded to our survey, 63 said they'd request a physical card if one were offered, and 49 said they'd be willing to pay for it. The reasons they gave point to real, everyday friction with a digital-only system:

• Access without a working phone. The most common reason cited (43 of 69 respondents) was wanting to prove student status or access buildings when their phone is dead or broken.
• Less dependence on digital infrastructure. 39 respondents want less reliance on apps, logins, and connectivity just to prove they're a student.
• No 4G, no problem. 33 respondents pointed to situations — abroad, in buildings, on public transport — where they had no signal and couldn't load the app.
• Recognition outside the Netherlands. Several students described being turned away for museum or transport discounts abroad because the digital card isn't in English, isn't EU-certified, or simply isn't trusted by staff who've never seen it.
• Speed. Multiple respondents described the login-plus-2FA process taking around 30–40 seconds — long enough to hold up queues and cause visible frustration for everyone involved.

A physical card wouldn't replace the digital one — it would simply give students who want it a reliable fallback that works everywhere, instantly, with no battery required.