Maastricht University is to close a meditation room at its arts and social sciences faculty after it emerged some students were using it for a different kind of “chilling”.

The Mindfulnest, a soundproofed booth furnished with a comfortable sofa and a tablet for playing music, was installed in early 2022 to give students a space to relax during the coronavirus restrictions.

But the invitation to “do whatever feels good” proved too much of a temptation for some frisky couples, campus newspaper Observant reported.

Students at a meeting of the faculty council were coy at first about the reasons for wanting to abolish the Mindfulnest: “Sometimes two people come out of there at the same time” or “things happen that it’s not meant for”.

But eventually Dutch directness won out when one attendee spoke up and explained: “Students are having sex in there.”

Student leaders said the use of the space was “unhygienic” and made it unappealing as a place for genuine meditation. “Just the thought of it means students don’t want to go in there anymore,” the faculty said.

Faculty director Constance Sommerey said the booth was due to be removed in March 2025 because the funding for it is no longer available now that the pandemic restrictions have ended.

But she said that in light of recent revelations, the university would shut down the Mindfulnest as soon as possible. Other options to facilitate yoga and meditation, such as VR headsets, are being explored instead.