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Students bring turbulent past of Valkenburg airfield to life News - 3 June 2026
The former Valkenburg airfield is steeped in history: the Romans defended their empire here, German forces landed here in 1940 and even the Cold War left its mark. Now thousands of homes are planned for the site. Students from Leiden and Delft are exploring how to make this past visible.

Why we need to look underwater to understand our past News - 12 April 2023
Traces of the past remain hidden in rivers, lakes and seas. In his inaugural lecture Martijn Manders will explain why underwater archaeology is important to understanding our history.

Help shape Leiden University’s next steps on its colonial and slavery past – apply now! Announcement - 19 February 2026

Museum Talks: ‘Our access to the past starts with in-depth knowledge of objects’ News - 10 November 2022
Geert-Jan Janse has always been fascinated by the way objects can bring the past closer. On 16 November, he will present a Museum Talk about his work as the director of the Vereniging Rembrandt (Rembrandt Association).

Frank van Vree: ‘It’s high time to discuss the ritualisation of the past’ News - 13 November 2023
The annual commemoration of the nation’s war dead on Dam Square and at Waalsdorpervlakte, the Dutch apologies for historical slavery and the Cleveringa Lecture itself: our relationship with history is often ritualistic, Cleveringa Professor Frank van Vree will say in his inaugural lecture on 27 Nove…

Reflecting on our university’s colonial past: ‘We’re still too Eurocentric’ News - 12 March 2026
How do colonialism and historical slavery continue to impact the university today? And what should happen next? Students and staff discussed these questions on 11 March.

NWO grant for the Facebook of the past: ‘Circulating images aren’t new’ News - 4 November 2024
GIFs, memes and videos: anyone who opens a social media platform can be in no doubt that today we live in a visual culture. But the role of images in social communications isn’t new, says Associate Professor Marika Keblusek. She has been awarded a Dutch Research Council (NWO) Open Competition (Large)…

What the Leiden Teaching Prize has meant for three past winners News - 26 May 2025
You win the Leiden Teaching Prize and suddenly all eyes are on you. Three past recipients reflect on how this student-awarded prize has changed how they work and improved their teaching – and how they chose to spend the money.

Leiden University is travelling to the past and the future for its 450th birthday News - 14 January 2025
Leiden University is celebrating its 450th anniversary in 2025 with a feast for the eyes, ears and spirit. The anniversary year opens with an extra special Dies Natalis on 7 February. Highlights includes an alumni festival, three exhibitions and a canal concert.

Too late for your lecture? That’s a thing of the past with the new Kwartiertje pass News - 1 April 2023
Being on time for a lecture can be hard for students. To make life easier, you can now request for a ‘Kwartiertje’ pass.

LUCAS Talks: Negotiating the Past Event - 27 May 2025
Lecture

Dialogue Session on Leiden University’s Colonial and Slavery Past Event - 11 March 2026
Dialogue session