Events

October 2025

Thu 16 October 2025

LeidenGlobal film & dialoog | Radical: Onderwijs als motor van verandering

In het kader van ‘Leiden Onderwijsstad’ is er een vertoning van de veelgeprezen film 'Radical,' over een leraar aan de Mexicaanse grens die op eigenzinnige wijze zijn leerlingen inspireert. De vertoning wordt gevolgd door een verdiepend gesprek met twee experts.

Thu 16 October 2025

What's new?! Lecture | “Dizzy with Wonder:” Early Cinema and the Birth of Movie-Fandom in Egypt, 1896-1935

This lecture analyzes Egypt's early cinematic history and explores how audiences in Egypt made sense of the cinema in their lives, contributed to the broader social formation of cinematic cultures, and projected their aspirations and desires onto the world of cinema.

Thu 16 October 2025

Lecture | Archaeological Forum: Lieke Bes and Adam Benfer

In this  Archaeological Forum, Lieke Bes discusses "Living in an early medieval emporium: who was buried in Dorestad?" Adam Benfer talks about "Animating Stone: Zoomorphic Metates and Pre-Hispanic Ontologies in Southern Central America." The lectures are followed by Faculty Drinks.

Thu 16 October 2025 - Fri 17 October 2025

Conference | Children's rights under pressure in a changing world

Armed conflicts around the world directly affect families and children every day. Meanwhile, international solidarity is dwindling and human rights are pushed back on. This has led to the central theme for this Symposium: Children's Rights under pressure in a changing world: Need for a new research agenda? 

Thu 16 October 2025

Book talk | Why Citizens Tolerate Democratic Backsliding

Natasha Wunsch presents findings from her book 'Democratic Commitment: Why Citizens Tolerate Democratic Backsliding.' She claims that political culture explains why people keep supporting leaders who weaken democracy. 

Fri 17 October 2025

Seminar | Colonial Botany in the Dutch East Indies

In the 19th century, Buitenzorg’s botanical staff worked in the highlands of Mount Gede and Pangrango, planting crops like tea and reshaping the landscape. This presentation shows how moving plants, labor, and knowledge across elevations made Buitenzorg a center for experimental colonial agriculture.

Fri 17 October 2025

Seminar | Is the EU tightening or loosening its grip?

Since 2020, crises have led the EU to ease spending rules. This lecture explores the 2024 framework, which balances fiscal stability with future investment, and asks if it limits national choices.

Fri 17 October 2025

IIAS online presentation | San Pedro River Rescue Collective

The Rio San Pedro Team of the River Cities Network presents the work of the San Pedro River Rescue Collective (SPRRC), a grassroots initiative improving Quito’s (Ecuador) most threatened waterway. The SPRRC is working to help the river’s health but also the relationship between the community and its waterways.

Sat 18 October 2025

WML Festival | K-pop, In The Picture

Het Wereldmuseum Leiden viert de opening van een nieuwe K-pop tentoonstelling met muziek, dans, workshops en ontmoetingen voor fans.

Sun 19 October 2025

WML filmavond | Reisverhalen – De Goudlijn & O ouro surpreende a gente

Twee films nemen je mee naar Suriname: van de ‘Goudlijn’ die Paramaribo met de goudmijnen verbond tot het leven rond goudwinning in Brokopondo en Paramaribo. Gevolgd door Q & A.

Sun 19 October 2025

RMO online lezing | Toon Sykora: Egyptische miniatuurkapel

Toon Sykora, conservator van de collectie Egypte en Nubië, vertelt over een miniatuurkapel: een klein monument voor 4 bevelhebbers uit het Egyptische Middenrijk (1980-1760 v.Chr.). Sykora gaat in zijn lezing op zoek naar de individuen achter het monument.

Mon 20 October 2025

Talk | From War on Drugs to Criminal Governance: Mexico’s Security Dilemmas

COLMEX expert Dr. Rodrigo Peña González analyses the security challenges most important in Mexico, such as the constant power and influence of drug cartels, recent changes and ongoing frictions in the criminal underworld, and a continuous fentanyl crisis, which lead to high levels of violent crime and insecurity throughout the nation.

Tue 21 October 2025

Book talk | Sub State Recognition: The Politics of State Recognition from Below

Dr. Ramesh Ganohariti presents his new book, co-authored with Dr. Gëzim Visoka, titled Sub-State Recognition: The Politics of Recognition from Below. This book explores how sub-state recognition - when regions, cities, or local governments recognise or support entities seeking independence - is rising in international relations. In The Hague.

Tue 21 October 2025 - Thu 23 October 2025

KITLV End Conference | Island(er)s at the Helm: New perspectives on climate challenges in the (Dutch) Caribbean

This three-day conference explores the connections between culture, heritage, architecture, policy, governance, and sustainable adaptation in the (Dutch) Caribbean. In Curaçao. Some sessions can be attended online. 

Wed 22 October 2025

ChiLL Talk | On the degree adverb lǎo in Northeastern Mandarin

This talk investigates and provides an analysis of the degree adverb lǎo 老 ‘old (literal meaning)’ in Northeastern Mandarin (a northern variety of Chinese). 

Wed 22 October 2025

Book talk | War and Power

Professor Phillips Payson O’Brien presents fascinating examples from the late 19th century to the present day how misunderstanding war and power has led to terrible, even preventable conflicts – such as the war in Ukraine – and how more accurate analysis helps us understand the potential conflict between the US and China.

Wed 22 October 2025

Open Huis | ArcheoHotspot Faculteit der Archeologie

De Faculteit der Archeologie houdt open huis met lezingen eb workshops met archeologisch materiaal. Aan bod komen onder meer het gebruik van botanische resten in de archeologie en skeletten uit Dorestad.

Wed 22 October 2025 - Fri 24 October 2025

Conference | A Three-dimensional Initiative on Academic Freedom

Academic freedom in Europe is under pressure. This Una Europa conference explores challenges in teaching, research, and knowledge sharing, and brings people together to discuss future policy options.

Thu 23 October 2025

Asia Academy | China, Protest and Asia’s Struggle against Autocracy

China has rapidly become a global power, affecting politics, culture, and democracy across Asia. This Asia Academy in the Hague looks at its impact, from protests in Hong Kong to youth movements in Thailand and Myanmar.

Thu 23 October 2025

What's new?! Lecture | When Turkish Islamism Meets Social Sciences: Essentialism Upgraded?

This lecture delves into the relationship between Turkish Islamists and social sciences. It focuses on the ways in which social sciences have become part of Turkish Islamist ideology and how social sciences have impacted the course of Turkish Islamist thought. 

Fri 24 October 2025

Lecture | (Under)mining Preindustrial Europe: Ecology, Society and Culture, 1180-1550 CE

This research seminar explores the process of manual mining in Preindustrial Europe and the developments that it managed to spark, including changing ecologies and landscapes, stimulating migration and creating privileged occupational communities. 

Fri 24 October 2025

Conference | Bridging Wor(l)ds: Future-proofing Languages & Cultures in Dutch Higher Education

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This conference is meant for all staff (research and teaching) working within the field of Languages and Cultures. At the conference the sector will be reviewed, looking for future directions and (collaborative) opportunities. In Amsterdam.

Fri 24 October 2025

WML Talk | The use of contemporary art in plantation museums in Marinique

The Research Center for Material Culture of Wereldmuseum Leiden organises a public talk 'Decolonising to colonise' with research fellow Christine Chivallon. This talk is about the Martinican elite and the showing of art as a neo-colonial method to erase memory.

Sun 26 October 2025

WML filmavond | We are Zama Zama

Internationale documentaires geven verdieping bij de tentoonstelling 'In de ban van GOUD.' Deze film geeft een unieke kijk in het gevaarlijke leven van nieuwe groepen migranten in verlaten goudmijnen in Zuid-Afrika. 

Mon 27 October 2025

Research Seminar | Atmospheres of Sharing in Unusual Ik Families

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In Uganda’s Ik mountains, some families live in ways that challenge common ideas about gender and family. Lotte Meinert explores how two families build their lives through care and quiet daily moments.

Mon 27 October 2025

NINO Conference | Decolonizing Archaeological Epistemologies

A critical look at the history and methods of archaeology, suggesting a new, anti-colonial approach. The global discussions about returning ancient Egyptian artifacts has increased with the Grand Egyptian Museum.

Mon 27 October 2025

RMO online lezing | De archeologie van Kreta

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Ism Djoser presenteert het RMO een reeks van online lezingen over archeologie in verschillende delen van de wereld. In zijn lezing neemt Gert Jan van Wijngaarden het traditionele beeld van de Minoïsche paleizen in Kreta onder de loep.

Tue 28 October 2025

IIAS Hybrid lecture | Youths in Frame: Indigenous Filipino Children and Transnational Display at the 1904 World’s Fair

This lecture rethinks the roles of indigenous Filipino children during the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair. The goal is to reframe these children’s lived experiences and look at their impact as diplomatic representatives to the United States and to other indigenous groups present at the fair.

Wed 29 October 2025

LDE GMD Jubileumconferentie | Governance of Migration and Diversity

Deze conferentie ter gelegenheid van het tienjarig bestaan van het LDE Centre Governance of Migration and Diversity staat stil bij het verleden, het heden en de toekomst van het beheer van migratie en diversiteit. In Rotterdam.

Wed 29 October 2025 - Thu 30 October 2025

Conference | Heritage, Memory, Climate, and Reparatory Justice in the Caribbean

This conference provides a basis for new knowledge to strengthen and deepen discussions on reparations in the Caribbean, and the region’s connection to Europe and beyond. Taking part in reparation discussions in the Caribbean moves beyond Eurocentric ideas of repair.

Wed 29 October 2025

Book presentation | 'Stop the Machines: The Rise of Anti-Technology Extremism'

As technology rapidly advances, a new kind of extremism blames it for society’s problems and turns to violence. Mauro Lubrano’s book explores how this movement has grown worldwide.

Wed 29 October 2025 - Thu 30 October 2025

Conference | Transnational Conversations

This conference explores how colonial slavery is remembered today, focusing on heritage, climate, and reparations in the Caribbean, Europe, and beyond.

Wed 29 October 2025

WML Conference | Decolonizing archaeological epistemologies

The Research Center for Material Culture organises a conference by Dr. Pansee Atta (Leiden University) about proposing more democratic and freeing practices and approaches to archaeological history and material culture.

Thu 30 October 2025

RMO lecture | The future of Egyptology

Egyptian Egyptologist Monica Hanna discusses her ideas for the future of Egyptology as a field of study. She argues that for 200 years, Egyptology has mainly focused on “wonderful things.” Hanna believes the future of the field should go beyond the fascination with gold and secrets.

Thu 30 October 2025

WML Talk | The reading material project

The Research Center for Material Culture organises a public talk by Professor Jessica Hemmings about the origins of the Batik collection of the Wereldmuseum archives. 

Thu 30 October 2025

IIAS hybrid book launch | Future Practices of Citizenship in Asia and the West

This hybrid book launch explores the biggest challenges facing society in the twenty-first century such as rights for indigenous peoples. If we work together as citizens, we can overcome them.

Thu 30 October 2025

Gesprek en tentoonstelling | Pioniers van de natuurfotografie

Universitaire Bibliotheken Leiden organiseert een podiumgesprek met schrijver Eva Vriend, kunstenaar Awoiska van der Molen, biograaf Dik van der Meulen en conservator Maartje van den Heuvel over de opkomst van natuurbescherming in Nederland en de rol van fotografie daarin.

Thu 30 October 2025 - Fri 31 October 2025

Online bijeenkomst | Dagen van het Nederlands

Lettie Dorst (Universiteit Leiden) houdt een keynote-lezing over AI tijdens de Dagen van het Nederlands. Het thema van deze online bijeenkomst is AI en vertaalsystemen in het NVT-onderwijs: een nieuwe uitdaging voor taal- en vertaaldocenten. 

Fri 31 October 2025

Seminar | Politics in Late Imperial Austria and Contemporary Europe

In late Imperial Austria, politics were shaped by tensions between the center and regions in a diverse empire. This talk argures how its politics, about “who gets what” and “who belongs,” are like today’s Europe.

Fri 31 October 2025

Najaarssymposium | Historisch Leiden: Koloniën, Kennis en Collecties

Dit symposium duikt in de verborgen verhalen achter Leidens rol in de wereldgeschiedenis. Historici, curatoren en onderzoekers delen hun inzichten in een aantal flitslezingen. 

November 2025

Sun 2 November 2025

RMO online lezing | Eliza Jacobi: Dodenboek van Qenna

Restaurator Eliza Jacobi vertelt over de restauratie van het Egyptische dodenboek van Qenna. Het materiaal van dit unieke, 17m lange papyrus is minutieus bekeken, reparaties uit voorgaande eeuwen werden vervangen en er werd een digitale reconstructie gemaakt.

Wed 5 November 2025

IIAS Hybrid event | Decentring Wax Print Discussions: Production, Marketing, and Consumption in West Africa

This conversation session centres Africa's crucial role in shaping, adapting, and sustaining wax print as a cultural and economic resource throughout West Africa and questions how the ideas of co-creation and decentering authenticity are focused on in the form of exhibition making.

Thu 6 November 2025

IIAS Hybrid lecture | Case Closed?: Physician-Patient Encounters in American Colonial Philippines

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This lecture suggests the need to revisit sources of medical meetings between physicians and patients during the American colonial period in the Philippines, to sort out decisions and dilemmas that may have been overlooked in past studies of history.

Thu 6 November 2025 - Fri 7 November 2025

IIAS online conference | Trump 2.0: US Policy Towards Asia

This conference explores US policy towards the various regions and powers of Asia and what might come next under President Donald Trump. This conference is split into two days, where the first session explores US policy towards India and South Asia, China and Central Asia. The second session covers US policy towards Southeast Asia, the Middle East and East Asia.

Thu 6 November 2025

What's new?! Lecture | Hamas's Pragmatism as Expressed Through Its Ceasefires

This lecture deals with the truce proposals that the Palestinian organization Hamas has been involved with throughout its existence. In this lecture, Joas Wagemakers shows that Hamas's use of truces confirms and even exemplifies its flexible and pragmatic nature.

Thu 6 November 2025

ASCL seminar | When Africans speak

Grâce Ndjako (University of Amsterdam) explores the impact of African anti-colonial critique. She studies the speech Congolese prime minister Patrice Lumumba gave at Congo’s independence and how people then and now have responded to it.

Thu 6 November 2025 - Fri 7 November 2025

Conference | Linguistic Anthropology in Europe: Past, Present, and Futures

The first ELAN conference, a Linguistic Anthropology Network, brings together scholars interested in linguistic anthropology in Europe, whether they work there or focus on European topics.

Thu 6 November 2025

NINO/EOL-najaarslezing | Laatste resultaten van archeologisch veldwerk in Sakkara

Nico Staring (Universiteit Leiden) presenteert de laatste resultaten van archeologisch veldwerk in de woestijnbegraafplaats Sakkara bij Memphis, Egypte.

Fri 7 November 2025

WML bijeenkomst | Sudan: Het ongeziene zichtbaar maken

Tijdens deze Imagine Peace-bijeenkomst gaat het over het belang van gehoord worden. Er wordt gekeken hoe je kunt rouwen en afscheid nemen als oorlog je land verscheurt maar erkenning ontbreekt.

Mon 10 November 2025

RMO online lezing | De archeologie van de Adriatische kust

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Deze lezing belicht Ravenna (Italie) als politieke, religieuze en culturele sleutelstad in de periode van de overgang van het Romeinse naar het christelijke Europa.

Mon 10 November 2025

ASCL seminar | The jihadist insurgency in Northern Mozambique

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Northern Mozambique faces attacks by jihadist groups. Some see them as terrorists, others link them to social issues. This seminar explores less-discussed causes like religion and ethnic tensions.

Thu 13 November 2025

Lezing | Leidse Bespiegelingen: Sport is meer dan Spel

Voormalig profvoetbalster en filosoof Martine Prange laat zien hoe macht de sportwereld vormgeeft, maar ook hoe sport een ruimte kan worden voor verzet. Sportfilosoof en wielrenner Aldo Houterman neemt je mee in een radicale herwaardering van het lichaam: niet slechts een voertuig van het brein.

Sat 15 November 2025

NINO & RMO event | Vlaams-Nederlandse Egyptologendag

De 52e Vlaams-Nederlandse Egyptologendag is het jaarlijkse evenement voor Nederlandstalige studenten en afgestudeerden in de Egyptologie. Wetenschappers presenteren recent onderzoek en recente archeologische ontdekkingen in het RMO in Leiden.

Sun 16 November 2025

RMO online lezing | Baki's senet-spel

Toon Sykora, conservator van de collectie Egypte en Nubië, vertelt over het oeroude Egyptische bordspel Senet. Wat een onopvallend blok hout uit de collectie lijkt, is van naderbij bekeken een speelbord met opschrift van een oud-Egyptische spelfanaat.

Tue 18 November 2025

IIAS online presentation | Morphological delineation of urban river spaces

Rapid urban growth and climate change have made urban river areas key public, green spaces. Claudiu Forgaci, Francesco Nattino, and Yehan Wu present rcrisp, a tool that automatically maps the shapes of urban river areas. They explain how rcrisp maps these river spaces.

Wed 19 November 2025

Online Discussion | Shrines & Shrine Culture in Pre-Safavid Shi'ism

The lecture series “Material Culture, Art, and Architecture of Pre-Safavid Shīʿism” connects scholars of early Shīʿism (a branch of Islam) with experts in Islamic art and material culture. Fuchsia Hart and Stephennie Mulder focus this session on shrines and shrine culture.

Thu 20 November 2025

Lecture | Archaeological Forum: Aris Politopoulos & Dennis Braekmans

Part of a series of presentations on research or fieldwork. Aris Politopoulos talks about "Ancient Boardgames as Virtual Timemachines". Dennis Braekmans discusses "Light and Matter: Spectroscopy ad Multispectral Imaging of Egyptian Figurines and Coffin Polychromy." 

Fri 21 November 2025

Workshop | De natuurlijke schoonheid van de Romeinen

Ontdek in deze workshop met Dorothee Olthof van PRAE archeologie en educatie wat de oude Romeinen zoal gebruikten om zichzelf mooier te maken en lekkerder te laten ruiken. Een heel assortiment aan make-up, van valse wenkbrauwen tot oogschaduw. 

Mon 24 November 2025

RMO online lezing | De archeologie van Japan

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Ism Djoser presenteert het Rijksmuseum van Oudheden lezingen over archeologie in verschillende delen van de wereld. In deze lezing staat een iconische Jōmon-site centraal, als ingang tot de rijke materiële cultuur van de Jōmon-periode (Japanse prehistorische periode).

Fri 28 November 2025

NINO & RMO Hybrid Lecture | Of Fields, Granaries, and Power

Agriculture was key to the Kassite kingdom’s economy (c. 1595–1155 BCE). This lecture explores these records that show how the Kassite state collected, stored, and spread agricultural products.

Fri 28 November 2025

Seminar | European Space Policy

Outer space is filling up with satellites from different countries and companies. This seminar looks at how Europe can stay independent and keep control over its technology. Competing with GPS and Starlink shows Europe's push for digital sovereignty.

Sun 30 November 2025

RMO online lezing | Beeldje van Iy-Meritnebes

Conservator Toon Sykora vertelt over het Egyptische beeldje van de godsvrouwe 'Iy-Meritnebes'. Ze was een van de belangrijkste personen van haar tijd. Tot recent was weinig bekend over deze dame. Nieuw onderzoek brengt daar verandering in.

December 2025

Thu 4 December 2025

Stephen Ellis annual event | The role of African philosophy in peace and security

This event presents a fresh look at African philosophy and its relevance for conflict resolution, peace, and security issues on the African continent. 

Thu 4 December 2025

What's new?! Lecture | Deathbed Emotions as a Case Study of Ambiguity in Islamic Modernity

This lecture explores the question: "can we speak of stricter emotional regimes from the 19th century onwards?" Within the history of emotions in the Muslim world. 

Thu 4 December 2025

NINO Boekpresentatie | Babylonian Chronographic Texts

Deze boekpresentatie gaat over het boek "Babylonian Chronographic Texts from the Hellenistic Period". Dit boek bevat een volledige editie met transliteraties, vertalingen en uitgebreid commentaar van alle historische teksten in spijkerschrift tussen circa 480 en 22 voor Christus. 

Mon 8 December 2025

RMO online lezing | De archeologie van Zuid- en Centraal-Azië

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Peter Bisschop (Universiteit Leiden) vertelt over de verspreiding van vroege inscripties in India, gevolgd door Gabrielle van den Berg (Universiteit Leiden) die zich richt op de cultuur van de Sogdiërs.

Thu 11 December 2025

IIAS seminar | New Perspectives on the Presentation of Japanese Art II

The New Perspectives series demonstraties that the study of Japanese art is very much alive and part of a global discussion. 

Fri 12 December 2025

RMO pubquiz | Nederlandse Archeologie

Teams strijden in het Rijkmuseum van Oudhedenom om de ludieke titel ‘meest doorgewinterde archeoloog van Nederland’. Test je kennis over opgravingen en buig je over vragen over archeologie in muziek en film.

Fri 12 December 2025

Symposium | Old English, Middle English & Historical Linguistics

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Marcelle Cole, Brian Golding, and Ellie Rye discuss “Localizing the Ormulum.” Jannis Jakobs explores a digital approach to the study of scribal practices. Followed by a discussion by Megan on “The Medieval Middlebrow: Rewriting Romance and Reshaping the Literary Marketplace.”

Sun 14 December 2025

RMO online lezing | De mummiekist van Peftjaoeneith

Helbertijn Krudop, restaurator organische materialen, vertelt over de betekenis en restauratie van de Egyptische mummiekist van Peftjaoeneith. Deze kist is gedecoreerd met godinnen en hiërogliefen aan de buitenkant en met een afbeelding van hemelgodin Noet aan de binnenkant.

Wed 17 December 2025

Online Discussion | The Askari shrine and its urban context in Iraq

In this series scholars of early Shīʿism (a major branch of Islam) connect with experts in Islamic art and material culture. Alastair Northedge focuses this session on the Askari shrine and its urban context in Abbasid Samarra, city in Iraq.

Fri 19 December 2025

Workshop | De natuurlijke schoonheid van de Romeinen

Dorothee Olthof toont in de Hortus Leiden wat de oude Romeinen zoal gebruikten om zichzelf mooier te maken en lekkerder te laten ruiken. Een assortiment aan make-up, van valse wenkbrauwen tot oogschaduw. 

Mon 22 December 2025

RMO online lezing | De archeologie van Anatolië

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Ism Djoser presenteert het museum een reeks van online lezingen over archeologie in verschillende delen van de wereld. Eric Moormann vertelt over het archeologisch onderzoek bij Nemrud Dağı in Turkije. Willemijn Waal bespreekt het Hittitische rijk.

January 2026

Tue 13 January 2026 - Thu 15 January 2026

Conference | Legacies: Why Museum Histories Matter

This conference looks at how museums with historic roots are now rethinking their identity, making the 21st century a key time to study museum history.

Thu 22 January 2026 - Fri 23 January 2026

Conference | Doctors, patients and ethics in colonial and postcolonial medicine

This conference looks at medical ethics during and after colonial times. It explores how doctors did research in these settings and what role patients played. 

Thu 29 January 2026

NINO Annual Event | Food & Ritual

The NINO Annual Meeting offers an opportunity for students and researchers of the Near East in the Netherlands to exchange ideas about ongoing and envisioned research projects. The topic is 'Food and ritual.