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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.

Underexposed colonial past: 'You can suddenly feel like you are connecting with someone from the past' News - 15 January 2024
Attention to the colonial past may be increasing, but many aspects of it are still underexposed. Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant, in collaboration with, among others, Leiden researchers Anne-Marieke van der Wal-Rémy and Alicia Schrikker, therefore created a 'Canon of the Dutch Underexposed Past', which…

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

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…

Looking at the past with VR glasses: 'It really helps to visualise the impact of policy' News - 24 November 2023
A subject like history is all about the past. That often involves scrolling through old documents, but in the Research Master's in History, Professor Dario Fazzi takes a different approach. His students work with Virtual Reality.

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.

Thomas King: 'Cycling home after a borrel feels like a thing of the past now' News - 13 April 2022
Meet Thomas King, alumnus BA International Studies: ‘I’m currently living in London which is a really amazing experience! I’m a British citizen and I moved to the Netherlands to study BA International Studies back in 2017. I had the best three years ever living in The Hague and studying at Leiden.’

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.

ECHO finalist Husna Jalal: We need to look past our differences News - 2 December 2024
Every year, the ECHO Award is presented to students from non-western backgrounds who are committed to social improvement in the field of diversity and inclusion. One of this year's finalists is Leiden alumna Husna Jalal, who works for Afghan women's rights with her organization the Young Afghan Women’s…

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.

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

Ukrainian Nation-Building in the Past and the Present Event - 26 January 2026
Lecture, Leiden University Nationalism Network