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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.

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…

‘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…

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.

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