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.

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

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…

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Study trip Greek and Roman History 2026: Explore the Roman past of the Netherlands Event - 19 June 2026
Festival, Study trip Greek and Roman History 2026