Search - Leiden University

Leiden’s slavery past laid bare News - 29 March 2022
The Mapping Slavery project will place markers that tell the story of Leiden’s slavery past. Why is this important and what does it mean for today’s society? Before the markers are placed, a panel came together on 24 March to discuss the slavery past of not only the city but the University too.

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.

Minecraft in Morocco: virtual building blocks bring the past to life News - 5 December 2023
Getting young people excited about history is quite possible without books. Researchers from Leiden travelled to Morocco to work with schoolchildren on reconstructing cultural heritage in the popular video game Minecraft. The result: one virtual 14th-century city gate – and 20 teens with a greater appreciation…

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…

Hundred-year-old causes of death mapped: ‘The past is the laboratory of the present’ News - 3 February 2025
If it is up to university lecturer Evelien Walhout, in a year's time we will know exactly what people from Haarlem and Zwolle died of a century ago. Together with colleagues from other universities, she started the doodsoorzaken.nl platform, where causes of death are recorded. ‘Somewhere around the…

‘We have to stay alert and keep on feeling the past’ News - 14 September 2023
Space for open dialogue on historical slavery was created at the Keti Koti Table at Museum De Lakenhal, organised by Leiden University and the Municipality of Leiden. There, just metres away from 17th-century paintings, Leideners shared a ritual meal and spoke about the effects of slavery and our colonial…

The Chains of Holland’s Glory: research into South Holland's slavery past completed News - 8 June 2023
Karwan Fatah-Black and Lauren Lauret are co-authors of Geketend voor Hollands Glorie (The Chains of Holland’s Glory) that studies the political and economic connections between South Holland and slavery. The findings of this research will be presented with Dr. Joris van den Tol (Radboud University)…

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.

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.

Doe mee aan het Pre-PhD programma en ontdek of een PhD bij jou past News - 13 October 2025
The Pre-PhD Programme offers master’s students the chance to gain research experience. ‘The programme helps you discover if doing research is something for you’, says Bastiaan Ganzen, the programme’s Academic Coordinator.

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

A Contemporary Past – Looking Back and Forward Event - 26 June 2024
Exhibition, Photo exibition