Events

May 2025

Tue 20 May 2025

Symposium | Integrating safety & security to prevent industrial domino effects

Natural disasters and cyber attacks affect safety and security. At industrial sites threats can lead to ‘domino effects’: chain reactions of incidents due to safety and security threats that reinforce each other and lead to disastrous consequences. This symposium discusses how these risks can be reduced. Location: The Hague.

Tue 20 May 2025

Lecture | Rites of Passage in Ancient Near Eastern Rituals

Sociologists and anthropologists have been fascinated by the concept of “rites of passage”. Arnold Van Gennep claimed that such three-stage rituals occur in every significant event in people’s lives. Ilan Peled presents his book on magical rituals from the ancient Near East as rites of passage that used makeshift gates and house doors.

Tue 20 May 2025

Seminar | From Hygienic Cities to Fossil Urbanism

In 1968, the book 'The Population Bomb' made people fear that cities, especially in the third world, were harmful to nature. Later, environmental thinking became more global. Matthew Vitz argues that studying both cities and global forces like capitalism helps us better understand urban environmental change.

Tue 20 May 2025

RMO lecture | A Plundered Imperial Shrine

Elizabeth Marlowe (Colgate University) discusses, in this Babesch Byvanck lecture, a corpus of dozens of life-size bronze statues of Roman emperors and empresses that were looted in Turkey in the 1960s. These statues ended up in collections across the U.S. She discusses the site, the looting, and the resistance by some museums to return these statues.

Tue 20 May 2025

Lecture | Imagistic Care: Growing Old in a Precarious World

This lecture explores a book on 'Imagistic Care,' examining how images function in our writing and lives. How can image-based investigation help us understand the connections between self and other, dependence and independency, good and bad aging, and practices of care in old age? 

Tue 20 May 2025

WML event | A novel about the Haitian revolution

Kaiama L. Glover and Laurent Dubois discuss their English translation of the late Jean-Claude Fignolé’s 1990 novel, 'Quiet Dawn' at the Wereldmuseum Leiden. This contemporary Haitian novel explicitly grapples with Haiti’s revolution. It provides portraits of an eighteenth-century slaveholder, his wife, and their enslaved laborers.

Tue 20 May 2025

Lecture | Global Forces, Local Contexts, and Urban Environmental History

Matthew Vitz explores urban-environmental change by examining both local urban details and global patterns shaped by capitalism and colonialism. He offers a roadmap for a global urban environmental history, emphasizing the need for a more environmentally just future.

Tue 20 May 2025

Lecture | We died the day we left the forests

Online lecture documenting the collective memories of the lost heritage of the Basua of Bundibugyo (Uganda). Saudah Namyalo (Makerere University) explores the cultural threats faced by the Basua people of Bundibugyo, following their forced displacement from their traditional home in the Ugandan forest. She also discusses attempts to document the collective memories of their lost heritage.

Wed 21 May 2025

IIAS Hybrid Workshop | Rethinking New Order Indonesia

This hybrid workshop discusses two article drafts on law, military politics, and governmentalities under the New Order dictatorship (1966-1998) in Indonesia. Despite democratization following the fall of the order, problematic legacies from the regime remain such as political dynasties holding power and corruption among officials.

Wed 21 May 2025

Lecture | The City on a Lake

Particular Environments and Global Paradigms in the Making of Mexico City. Mexico City, one of the first megacities outside Europe and the United States, experienced explosive population growth and industrial development in the 20th century that led to the formation of informal settlements and environmental problems. Matthew Vitz explores the city's history of water and land struggles and connection to larger global trends. 

Wed 21 May 2025

Conference | Pitch your Heritage related research

The second edition of this open-mic-style event invites PhDs, postdocs, and academic staff from all faculties to pitch their research through the lens of cultural heritage. This is your chance to learn how others approach heritage, find inspiration, and network. Together, we delve into the definition of cultural heritage.

Wed 21 May 2025

ASCL Seminar | Africa in the Polycrisis, Vulnerability and Resilience

Wim Naudé discusses his contribution to the 2024 Economic Development in Africa Report. He examines optimal strategies for African countries and the private sector to reduce trade risks associated with uncertainties created by the global polycrisis.

Wed 21 May 2025

Lab meeting | Children and young people in South Sudan’s peacebuilding

Lucy Opoka presents her preliminary findings on the role of children and young people in South Sudan’s peacebuilding process. She examines how much children and young people are included in these processes, and how important inclusive peacebuilding is in addressing conflict.

Wed 21 May 2025

Research Meeting | Crossing the Border in Borneo

At the northernmost end of Indonesian Kalimantan lies the island of Sebatik, which is neatly bisected by the Indonesia-Malaysia border. The borderline is not fully agreed upon, not are the conditions for border crossing. Laurens Bakker explores the law and reality of the Sebatik border.

Wed 21 May 2025

Boekpresentatie | 'De Oorlog van Morgen'

Oorlog komt steeds dichterbij. Ook voor Nederland is de dreiging van een gewapend conflict niet langer ondenkbaar. Maar hoe ziet zo’n oorlog eruit en hoe kunnen we onszelf daartegen beschermen? Martijn Kitzen en Tim Sweijs laten aan de hand van hun nieuwe boek zien hoe moderne oorlogvoering zich ontwikkelt.

Wed 21 May 2025

Seminar | Obsolete Media in Post-socialist China

Qin Dao presents his work, which centers on rare and outmoded film formats from the 1960s to 1990s. Through his living-room projects "On Kino" and "On Analogue," he explores forgotten media. His practice revives marginalized memories by creatively collecting, archiving, exhibiting, and publishing these materials.

Thu 22 May 2025

Lecture | From Virtue to Money: The Concept of Trust in Stoic Ethics

Aistė Čelkytė explores how Epictetus compares virtue to money. She notes that Roman money changed from being based on valuable materials to money that only has value because people trust it. This shift shows the importance of trust in the Stoics' understanding of knowledge and social life.

Thu 22 May 2025

KITLV seminar | A revolution of the Javanese cropping calendar in colonial Indonesia

This hybrid seminar explores the pranata mangsa, a Javanese agricultural calendar. Pranata mangsa has been presented as a key element of Javanese traditional ecological knowledge, but historical documents show Dutch influence back to the nineteenth century.

Thu 22 May 2025

Lezing | Schrijversmythen

In de twintigste eeuw beïnvloedden schrijvers de publieke opinie en werden ze publieke figuren met grote maatschappelijke impact. Sander Bax bespreekt in deze hybride lezing hoe schrijvers hun identiteit vormgeven en de impact van schrijversmythen vandaag de dag.

Thu 22 May 2025

Talk | Prediction, Simulation, and the Incalculable Model

The Academy of Creative and Performing Arts of Leiden University and Art Institute West Den Haag collaborate in the second season of 'In the Making.' This series is dedicated to the practice of research in the arts. This specific talk explores how technological tools can be repurposed to experiment with image making.

Thu 22 May 2025

RMO lezing | De Kelten

Peter Schrijver (Universiteit Utrecht) spreekt over Kelten, hun talen en de vroege culturen van het Middellandse Zeegebied: Keltiberiërs, Lepontiërs, Galaten en hun buren. Ze ontwikkelden een karakteristieke cultuur, waarin overgeërfde, oer-Keltische elementen werden verbonden met lokale innovaties en invloeden van hun buren.

Thu 22 May 2025

Workshop | Generative AI & Embodied Cognition

This workshop investigates the changing impact of generative artificial intelligence on human creativity across society. It particularly focuses on the underexplored relationship between AI and embodied cognition expressed through movement, gesture, and sensory experience.

Thu 22 May 2025

Lecture | Using Technology for Early Warning and Violence Prevention and Innovation

This lecture focuses on the innovative applications of technology in early warning systems to prevent violence and conflict. Insights include case studies and policy approaches from international initiatives. It is part of a lecture series exploring technology and peacebuilding.

Fri 23 May 2025

WML Evenement | Imagine Peace: Leven zonder islamofobie

Islamofobie wordt vaak gereduceerd tot individuele vooroordelen of incidenten, maar het is diep verankerd in institutionele structuren. Dit evenement markeert de officiële lancering van het rapport van Stichting Meld Islamofobie en biedt een open gesprek en ruimte voor reflectie en actie.

Fri 23 May 2025

RMO lezing | 12 Provinciën-lezing, Provincie Utrecht

2025 is het 'Jaar van de Nederlandse archeologie.' Het Rijksmuseum van Oudheden zet archeologie in het zonnetje. Het organiseert 12 lezingen over archeologie in 12 provinciën. Deze hybride lezing focust op de provincie Utrecht en de vondsten in de stad Utrecht, Nieuwegein, polder Rijnenburg en Austerlitz.

Fri 23 May 2025

Lecture | A comparative overview of Arusa Maa and Fulfulde visual semantics

This lecture explores a comparative overview of Arusa Maa and Fulfulde visual semantics. It is part of the 'Time for Africa!' series at the Leiden University Centre for Linguistics. In this series linguistics with an interest for Africa share their current work.

Fri 23 May 2025

Symposium | 130 jaar Franse Taal en Cultuur in Leiden

Kennis van de Franse taal en Franstalige culturen is van enorme waarde voor Nederland. Aan de Universiteit Leiden leiden we al meer dan een eeuw lang experts van de Franse taal en Franstalige wereld op. Tijdens dit symposium vieren we niet alleen deze lange geschiedenis, maar ook de toekomst van de opleiding. 

Fri 23 May 2025

Lezing | De jeugd heeft de toekomst

Judi Mesman en Ton Liefaard stellen dat de toekomst bij uitstek een thema is dat intergenerationeel bekeken moet worden. Ze praten met jongeren en jongvolwassenen over wat zij belangrijk vinden voor een rechtvaardige toekomst. Locatie: Kunstmuseum Den Haag.

Fri 23 May 2025

Lecture | Dilemmas of the Kalwars

Sanjukta Poddar discusses her work-in-progress on 'Dilemmas of the Kalwars: Caught between Critique and Conformism of Caste.' This lecture is part of the 'Histories Connected' series that seeks to explore social, cultural, and political issues that connect people of Asia, the Middle-East, Africa, the Americas, and Europe throughout time.

Fri 23 May 2025

Symposium | Geschiedenis van de religiewetenschap in Leiden

De academische bestudering van religie heeft binnen de Universiteit Leiden een centrale plek gehad sinds de oprichting van de universiteit in 1575. Dit symposium onderzoekt hoe Universiteit Leiden zich vanaf de vroege jaren sterk profileerde op de historische en vergelijkende studie van religie.

Sat 24 May 2025

Lustrum | 75 years English Language and Culture programme

The Department of English language and culture will be 75 years old this year! In an action-packed programme, we look back but also forwards, underlining the importance of English Studies, of our degree programmes in English language and culture, and of language and culture studies in general.

Sat 24 May 2025

Lezing | Homo ludens: spelen met normen voor lichaam en geest

Joseph Jordan en Paul van Trigt (Universiteit Leiden) bespreken Johan Huizinga's homo ludens, de spelende mens. Ze praten over hoe mensen wier lichamen en geesten niet voldoen aan wat als normaal en beschaafd wordt gezien, aankijken tegen de spelende mens. Locatie: Kunstmuseum Den Haag.

Sun 25 May 2025

Leidse Wereldwandeling | Sporen van de Slavernij

Eeuwenlang was Nederland betrokken bij slavenhandel en slavernij, een geschiedenis van uitbuiting en racisme. Aan de hand van deze wandeling door de straten van de historische binnenstad van Leiden, leer je meer over deze geschiedenis. De wandeling is samengesteld door Mapping Slavery in Leiden i.s.m. het KITLV, de Universiteit Leiden en LeidenGlobal.

Mon 26 May 2025

Lecture | The Non-Religious Zaydi Literary Canon

Valentina Sagaria Rossi (University of Rome Tor Vergata) explores non-religious Zaydi writings by studying old Yemeni manuscripts. The Zaydis, a Shiʿite group that founded a state in Yemen in the 10th century, were central to the region’s politics. Her talk is part of the Leiden Yemeni Studies Lecture Series.

Mon 26 May 2025

Panel Talk | Trump’s Effect on Academia and Administration

In this College Tour public session with Professor and academic activist Donald Moynihan (Ford School), we discuss Trump’s effect on academia and administration. Moynihan is involved in the American public debate on the Trump administration and seeks to improve how governments work.

Mon 26 May 2025

Actualiteitencollege | Russische acties tegen Europa na de inval in Oekraïne

Sinds de Russische invasie van Oekraïne verkeert Europa in een veiligheidscrisis. Westerse landen sprongen bij met steun aan Oekraïne. In dit Actualiteitencollege in Den Haag bespreekt Bart Schuurman de Russische campagne van sabotage gericht op het ondermijnen van de Europese eensgezindheid.

Tue 27 May 2025

Lecture | Negotiating the Past

Super diverse urban spaces present a unique opportunity to democratize our relationship with the past. Tina De Gendt discusses how she collaborated with locals to uncover hidden histories in her hometown Ghent. Starting from walks in public space, working alongside artists, archivists, researchers and more, she created a platform for new and counter narratives to emerge.

Tue 27 May 2025

Book launch | 'Radicalized Conservatism in Israel' by Mateo Cohen

Mateo Cohen presents his new book, ‘Radicalized Conservatism in Israel’ (2025). It examines the ideology behind the Israeli government, explaining aspects of its ongoing war with the Palestinians, democratic decay, and regional and global realignment.

Tue 27 May 2025

Lecture | Prosecution of Heads of State: What Happens After?

Is it beneficial to prosecute current and former heads of state for atrocity? Dancy and Thoms present evidence on all domestic and foreign prosecutions of heads of state since 1970. They find that trying heads of state may contribute to the prevention of state violence, but comes at the cost of greater political division.

Tue 27 May 2025

Lecture | Hezbollah's Endurance in a Hostile World

Marina Calculli gives a lecture on 'Prudent Resistance: Hezbollah's Endurance in a Hostile World.' Calculli is specialized in instances of cooperation and rivalry between states and Islamist actors. Her lecture is part of the 'Middle East Studies Lectures Spring 2025' series and is followed by drinks.

Tue 27 May 2025

Book launch | Abraham Rogerius’s Account of South Indian Hinduism

Benjamin Leathley presents his new book, the first English translation of ‘The Open Door to Hidden Paganism’, one of the earliest and most detailed studies of South Indian Hinduism. Written in 1651 by Abraham Rogerius, a Dutch East India Company clergyman and missionary, it offers an account of the customs of the South Indian Brahmins.

Tue 27 May 2025

Lecture | Moving Reflections on Mortality and Morality in the Orations of Ali ibn Abi Talib

The orations of Ali ibn Abi Talib span a range of doctrinal, ethical, political, and practical concerns. Tahera Qutbuddin explores three of his themes: graphic depictions of death, the looming permanence of the hereafter, and an urgent call to lead a pious and virtuous life.

Wed 28 May 2025

Symposium | Vierde LUCL Retired & Kicking Symposium

In het 'Retired & Kicking' symposium van de Centre for Linguistics praat Arend Quak over Oudzweedse vertalingen van heiligenlevens. Marijke Mooijaart bespreekt eigennamen in woordenboeken en op straatnaambordjes en Nicoline van der Sijs het beeld van vreemde talen in Nederlandse uitdrukkingen.

Wed 28 May 2025

Fireside chat | Uncorking Language

This fireside chat explores the intersection of wine, metaphor, and communication in the age of GenAI. Attendees delve into how we understand wine through figurative language, enjoy a guided tasting, and explore the challenges and potential of human and artificial intelligence in conveying and translating wine experiences across languages and cultures.

June 2025

Sun 1 June 2025

WML Film Festival | Leiden Shorts - Redrawing the Lines

Het filmprogramma 'We need to talk about... Redrawing the Lines. Mapping Worlds, Resisting Erasure' onderzoekt cartografie als een methode van controle en voor verzet. Drie films navigeren door landschappen die getekend zijn door verplaatsing, technologische dominantie en politiek geweld. 

Sun 1 June 2025

Lezing | De Flora Batava

Tussen 1800 en 1934 verscheen het groots opgezette project Flora Batava, het eerste overzicht van wilde planten in Nederland. In 2023 verzorgde Norbert Peeters samen met Esther van Gelder een nieuwe uitgave van dit lijvige werk. Peeters gaat in op het belang van dit boek voor de waardering van lokale natuur. Esmée Winkel gaat dieper in op botanisch tekenen.

Mon 2 June 2025

Lecture | CADS Spotlight

In this double lecture, Shajeela Shawkat and James McGrail talk about their PhD research. Shajeela explores art workshops as a research tool that can reveal how art promotes self-expression and identity. James explores how Singapore’s Muslims challenge AI governance, imagining alternatives beyond state control.

Mon 2 June 2025

India - Pakistan: Een grensconflict met diepe wortels

Sinds de opdeling van Brits-Indië in 1947 zijn India en Pakistan meerdere keren in conflict geweest over Kasjmir. In dit Leids Actualiteitencollege bespreekt historica Carolien Stolte de oorsprong van het conflict, de rol van internationale diplomatie en de vaak vergeten impact op de inwoners van deze sterk gemilitariseerde regio.

Tue 3 June 2025

IIAS book talk | Romanian and Chinese cinemas

In this hybrid talk, Lucian Țion discusses his book on Romanian and Chinese cinemas, showing their shared socialist roots. By comparing films from Maoist China and Ceaușescu’s Romania, he challenges Western-centric narratives that dismiss socialist-era cinema as mere government propaganda.

Wed 4 June 2025

Seminar | The Complicit Politics of EU Migration Diplomacy

Sarah Wolff discusses the enabling role of EU politics in shaping migration diplomacy. Her lecture is part of the Leiden Interdisciplinary Migration Seminars, a series created to foster in-depth discussions on key migration-related issues.

Wed 4 June 2025

Lecture | 'Bolivia: Reflexions on its bicentennial of independence'

On the commemoration of 200 years of independence of Bolivia, Latin American Studies holds a lecture series. Indigenous authority and Vice-president of Bolivia, H.E. David Choquehuanca Céspedes delivers a lecture on the bicentennial of Bolivia and the challenges faced by the plurinational State. 

Thu 5 June 2025

IIAS Lecture | Perception and Transformation in Tibetan Construction Rituals

Rachael M. Griffiths explores 'sa chog', a Tibetan ritual used to select and prepare land before construction, involving astrology and other practices. This ritual shapes and transforms space for human use, and reflects broader Tibetan Buddhist views on space

Thu 5 June 2025 - Fri 6 June 2025

Conference | Generics and stereotypes in discourse

This conference explores a cross-disciplinary perspective on generics and stereotypes in discourse. Camiel J. Beukeboom (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) gives a keynote talk on “Linguistic stereotyping: How and why we generalize in communication about people.”

Thu 5 June 2025

Arts Discussion | Exploring the Multidimensional Nature of Radio

Margherita Brillada shares insights into her ongoing artistic research and practice-based project, On Air – On Site, an international experimental community radio initiative based in The Hague. The project aligns with her broader investigation of the radio’s evolving role as an artistic and social medium.

Thu 5 June 2025

NINO & RMO voorjaarslezing | Imponeren met macht en macht door te imponeren

Hellenistisch koningschap berustte op persoonlijk charisma, militaire prestaties en visueel machtsvertoon. Deze hybride lezing onderzoekt hoe Baktrische koningen in Centraal Azië op gelaagde en vernieuwende manieren prestige en gezag verwierven en bevochten.

Thu 5 June 2025

Seminar | We, Who, Where to?

The Centres of Political Philosophy and Continental Philosophy announce a lecture by Aukje van Roode (University of Amsterdam). She gives a lecture on Jean-Luc Nancy and transplantation as a model for rethinking history relationally. She is specialized in contemporary continental, particularly French, philosophy and its applications within literary and cultural studies.

Thu 5 June 2025

IAS Fellow Seminar | Spatial Practices of Rites in Rural China

Ritual spaces, where sacred and secular rites happen, are created through the ways people use them and move through them. How do such practices reflect specific rites? How have they changed over time? Zhao Xiaomei (Fudan University) explores how ritual spaces have shaped local architecture in rural Jinhua, Central Zhejiang.

Thu 5 June 2025

Lecture | Exploring Challenges to U.S. Constitutional Norms

Growing attention is being paid to the state of American democracy, with many wondering whether the U.S. may be facing a constitutional turning point. This question has far-reaching implications, not just for Americans, but for democracies everywhere. Kim Wehle explores the key developments currently testing the U.S. Constitution.

Thu 5 June 2025

Serious Game | NATO Summit Crisis Simulation

In the context of the NATO Summit in The Hague in June 2025, the Institute for Security and Global Affairs, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Young Atlantic Association, organises a North Atlantic Council Crisis Simulation. Students act as representatives of NATO Member States, responding to a crisis.

Thu 5 June 2025

Seminar | Artificial Consciousness and the Conditionality of Moral Agency

Martin Adam (University of Victoria) explores the relevance of Abhidhamma theory to the modern development of artificial intelligence. What conditions are necessary for the arising of consciousness? Could these ever be instantiated in a machine environment?

Thu 5 June 2025

RMO Boekpresentatie | Het Grote Eiland

Hans Verheij en Hugo Koning bespreken hun boek 'Het Grote Eiland – De geschiedenis, het land en de mensen van Kreta.' Ze schetsen een levendig beeld van Kreta aan de hand van meer dan vierhonderd literaire en historische teksten van ongeveer honderd auteurs uit de oudheid tot aan het heden.

Thu 5 June 2025

Seminar | Women in the Gulf's digital platform economy

Crystal Ennis studies how digital work platforms connect to gender and the political economy of labour. She first discusses how a new Omani women's taxi service affects job opportunities for women. Then, she talks about how this kind of gig work is changing Asia's labour and migration systems.

Fri 6 June 2025

ASCL Conference | Fifty years of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States

The CRG Governance, Entrepreneurship, and Inclusive Development Research Group holds a one-day conference to mark the 50th anniversary of the Organisation of the African, Caribbean, and Pacific states. The conference explores its evolution, operations, and activities.

Fri 6 June 2025

Lecture | The Politics of Tourism in Kim Jong Un's North Korea

Since the begining of the Kim Jong Un era, North Korea embarked on an expansion of its tourism development unlike this isolationist and autarkic country had ever tried before. Dean J. Ouellette explores where the motivation for this development comes from and what tourism means to the Kim regime.

Sun 8 June 2025

Warenmarkt | De jaarlijkse Japanmarkt

Ter herinnering aan het bezoek van de Japanse Keizer en Keizerin aan het Japanmuseum SieboldHuis organiseert het museum ieder jaar de Japanmarkt. Het staat vol met Japanse kraampjes; van manga tot prenten en van kimono tot cosplay. Zowel de klassieke als de moderne Japanse cultuur komen aan bod.

Wed 11 June 2025 - Sat 14 June 2025

IIAS Conference | Africa-Asia, A New Axis of Knowledge

This conference aims to deepen discussions on the histories and connections between Africa and Asia. The conference is held in Dakar, Senegal, and highlights the city's cultural richness through a conference-festival that blends academia, society and the arts. 

Wed 11 June 2025

Lecture | Tracing the Early History of Yoga

Valters Negribs addresses different beliefs about the soul and the religious goals of ascent to heaven, the world of Brahmā, ultimate liberation, and union with God in the early yoga history. Beliefs about sages voluntarily ascending and early yogic meditation were used to create theistic yoga forms. 

Wed 11 June 2025

Debate | The UK and the EU: What shared interests in a digitised and geopolitical world?

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The EU and the UK are now in the post-Brexit era, but also face a rapidly changing European and global security architecture and a heavy strain on transatlantic relations. This public debate explores geopolitics, hard military security, cyber security, and digitisation.

Wed 11 June 2025

Symposium | Absence as artistic strategy in contemporary art

This symposium explores the theme of absence in contemporary art. From erasure and hidden narratives to negative space and invisibility, it examines how absence functions as a fundamental artistic strategy. Scholars and artists worldwide can share insights on this compelling subject.

Wed 11 June 2025

Conference | Second Humanities and International Relations Graduate Conference

In our evolving and interconnected world, the study of International Relations (IR) has expanded beyond conventional disciplinary boundaries. In this conference, Leiden University's MA in IR explores world affairs through insights from different fields.

Thu 12 June 2025

RMO boekpresentatie | Libanon – een korte geschiedenis

Jona Lendering presenteert zijn nieuwe boek over de geschiedenis van Libanon vanaf de bronstijd. Hij vertelt over Byblos, de Feniciërs, de kruistochten en de Ottomanen. Ook de moderne geschiedenis komt aan bod. Na afloop van zijn presentatie kunt u het boek kopen en laten signeren door de auteur.

Thu 12 June 2025 - Sat 14 June 2025

Symposium | The Values of Language(s) in the Ancient World

The Penn-Leiden Colloquia on Ancient Values were established as a biennial venue in which scholars could investigate the diverse aspects of Greek and Roman values. The thirteenth colloquium explores how Greeks and Romans valued language in general, their own languages, and other languages. 

Thu 12 June 2025

Lezing | Kunst die ons aanzet tot denken

Tijdens de derde lezing in de reeks Leidse Bespiegelingen onderzoeken kunsthistoricus Grootenboer en filosoof Van Gerwen de relatie tussen kunst en beschouwer. Wat doet een kunstwerk met ons? Hoe zet kunst ons aan tot denken? Kunnen kunstwerken een denkkader bieden voor reflectie? Wat is het belang van kunst?

Sat 14 June 2025

Event | Museumnacht Leiden

Gedurende de jaarlijkse Museumnacht in Leiden openen musea en culturele instellingen, waaronder het Rijksmuseum van Oudheden en het Wereldmuseum Leiden hun deuren tot in de late uren, waardoor bezoekers kunnen dwalen door eeuwenoude galerijen, moderne kunstwerken kunnen bewonderen en deel kunnen nemen aan interactieve tentoonstellingen. 

Sat 14 June 2025

Symposium | Asian art and material culture

The Young Scholars’ Symposium in Asian Art 2025 takes place at the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam with the title "Asian art and material culture: new ways of seeing." People in the fields of art history, material culture history, archaeology, environmental art history, architecture, anthropology, contemporary art, and design are welcome. 

Sun 15 June 2025

RMO fietstocht | Ontdek Romeins Leiden met de fiets

Stichting Mooi Matilo organiseert, in samenwerking met het Rijksmuseum van Oudheden, een fietstocht in het kader van de Nationale Archeologiedagen. Ontdek de geschiedenis van het Romeinse fort Matilo, leer meer over de eerste hoogleraar archeologie ter wereld, en bewonder Romeinse vondsten.

Sun 15 June 2025

RMO fietstocht | Ontdek Romeins Leiden met de fiets

Stichting Mooi Matilo organiseert, in samenwerking met het Rijksmuseum van Oudheden, een bijzondere fietstocht in het kader van de Nationale Archeologiedagen. Fiets met ervaren stadsgidsen Sijbrand of Willem van het Rijksmuseum van Oudheden. Ontdek de geschiedenis van het Romeinse fort Matilo, leer meer over de eerste hoogleraar archeologie ter wereld, en bewonder de mooiste Romeinse vondsten.

Mon 16 June 2025

Just Peace Festival | Dialogue: Imagining Peace

Amidst today’s armed conflicts, authoritarian governments, cyber attacks, organized crime, economic insecurity, and ecological destruction, it can be hard to imagine peace. What do we mean by ‘peace’, beyond the absence of war? This dialogue brings together thinkers who push us to get more clear and creative about peace.

Mon 16 June 2025

Lecture | Prosecuting Russian Environmental War Crimes

In its war with Ukraine, Russia has targeted the environment as a means of attaining military advantage, demoralizing the population, and rendering parts of Ukraine uninhabitable. This lecture's speakers helped prepare Ukrainian prosecutors and judges to try Russian environmental war crimes. 

Tue 17 June 2025

RMO lezing | Archeologie van de Tweede Wereldoorlog

Ruurd Kok houdt een hybride lezing over onderzoek naar sporen uit de oorlogsjaren 1940-1945. Dat varieert van opgravingen in nazi-kampen tot het meekijken met vliegtuigbergingen. Hij vertelt over de uitkomsten van het onderzoek en over het verschil met archeologisch onderzoek naar oudere vindplaatsen.

Tue 17 June 2025

Just Peace Festival | Dialogue: Peace in Europe

Eighty years after 1945, Europe again faces war in its own region. How to have peace in Europe? This dialogue looks at the horrors of current war in Ukraine; the relationship of Russia to Europe; lessons of Europe’s history for future peace; the values underpinning future European peace; and Europe’s place in a changing global world.

Tue 17 June 2025

Lecture | Mapping Arabic in Modern Hebrew Literature

Lital Abazon gives a lecture on 'Whose Language Is It, Anyway? Mapping Arabic in Modern Hebrew Literature.' Her research lies at the intersection of nationality, ethnicity, and language, specifically with what happens when those clash with one another. Her lecture is part of the 'Middle East Studies Lectures Spring 2025' series.

Wed 18 June 2025

Just Peace Festival | Dialogue: Peace in Sudan

Since April 2023 the current war in Sudan has brought larger death, destruction, and displacement than any other ongoing armed conflict on earth. This dialogue brings together wise thinkers and excellent speakers from academia, civil society, policymakers, and youth to discuss how peace can be brought back to Sudan.

Thu 19 June 2025 - Fri 20 June 2025

Conference | Grotian Law and Modernity in a New Age

On the occasion of the 400th anniversary of the publication of 'De jure belli ac pacis' by Hugo Grotius in 1625, this conference explores Grotius's role in the history of international law. The central focus is on evaluating how relevant his ideas are today, and what changes may be necessary. Location: The Hague.

Thu 19 June 2025

RMO talks | 4000 jaar lichaamsversiering

Wat gebeurt er als je levende henna-tradities van vandaag en archeologische tatoeages uit het oude Egypte combineert? Ontdek het op deze avond tijdens een bijzondere reis door vier millennia lichaamsversiering, met talks van henna-artiest Fatima Oulad Thami en egyptologe, etnograaf en sieradenhistoricus Sigrid van Roode.

Thu 19 June 2025 - Fri 20 June 2025

Just Peace Festival | Peace, Democracy, and Media Conference

Iran Academia provides a unique intellectual platform where scholars, journalists, and thinkers engage with the complexities of peace, democracy, and media. Today Iran stands at a critical juncture. This gathering explores the emerging world order and its impact on Iran — inside the country and across its diaspora.

Thu 19 June 2025

KITLV seminar | An algorithmic visuality of Muslim women images

From the 'Women of Algiers' painting (1834), postcards of the odalisques, to the photograph of the 'Afghan Girl' (1984), representations of Muslim women have been captured in various forms. Different technologies have contributed to the reproduction and circulation of these images. This hybrid seminar explores the new algorithmic visuality.

Thu 19 June 2025

Just Peace Festival | Dialogue: Peace in Israel-Palestine

As part of the Just Peace Festival, the Just Peace Dialogues are a set of meetings for public deliberation of key aspects of building peace in today’s world. This dialogues aims to stimulate creative discussion about conditions for a just peace in Israel and Palestine.

Fri 20 June 2025

WML Event | Imagine Peace: Justice for displaced plants

Plants also carry stories. Colonization and global trade disrupted many ecosystems. Traditional knowledge was lost. Nature became property. In this meeting, we mourn the loss of nature's balance, and listen to indigenous voices from New Zealand and South Africa. How do we take better care of the nature that remains?

Fri 20 June 2025

Just Peace Festival | Dialogue: Democracy and Peace

This dialogue explores the relationship between democracy and peace. Do the two go hand in hand, so that less democracy means less peace? Or can democracy work against peace? Or is there something more deeply wrong with democracy as we know it? What kind of new democracy do we need?

Sat 21 June 2025

Just Peace Festival | Dialogue: Rule of Law and Peace

Liberal visions of international order presume that peaceful settlement of disputes depends on the rule of law. Yet today many actors ignore United Nations resolutions,  withdraw from international treaties, and violate legally established territorial borders. This dialogue explores whether this is the end of international law and order.

Sat 21 June 2025

Just Peace Festival | Dialogue: Cybersecurity and Peace

Pioneers of the internet expected that new technology would be a force for freedom, democracy, justice and peace. Yet today digital communications often involve criminal activity and cyber warfare. This dialogue explores how we can make online spaces serve a just peace.

Sat 21 June 2025 - Sun 22 June 2025

WML event | Matariki-weekend

Het Wereldmuseum Leiden leert je over Maoricultuur tijdens de viering van 15 jaar samenwerking met Toi Maori en The Dutch Waka Crew. Maori-gasten uit Nieuw-Zeeland en Engeland delen hun verhalen en gebruiken, en samen laten we de waka’s te water. 

Sun 22 June 2025

Just Peace Festival | Dialogue: Equality and Peace

Modern conflict often links back to inequality. If people perceive that they are unfairly blocked from opportunities for a good life, their frustrations can channel into violence. This dialogue explores whether current backsliding on diversity, equity and inclusion increase obstacles to peace.

Sun 22 June 2025

Leidse Wereldwandeling | Sporen van de Slavernij

Eeuwenlang was Nederland betrokken bij slavenhandel en slavernij, een geschiedenis van uitbuiting en racisme. Aan de hand van deze wandeling door de straten van de historische binnenstad van Leiden, leer je meer over deze geschiedenis. De wandeling is samengesteld door Mapping Slavery in Leiden i.s.m. het KITLV, de Universiteit Leiden en LeidenGlobal.

Sun 22 June 2025

Just Peace Festival | Dialogue: Climate and Peace

Today’s world faces large-scale climate change. Meeting this challenge involves adjustments to economy and society, with potential for conflict and violence. This dialogue assembles authorities on the relationship between climate and peace, exploring how climate change can be handled in ways that maximize peace. 

Thu 26 June 2025

Conference | Collecting Global Heritage

The restitution of objects and collections and the decolonization of the institutions to which these collections belong are high on the agenda. Therefore, Leiden University and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam are organizing an event on 'Cultural heritage and identity: collecting, management and transfer.'

Thu 26 June 2025 - Fri 27 June 2025

Conference | Ælfric’s Afterlives: The Most Prolific Author of Old English

Ælfric of Eynsham (c. 955 – c. 1010) wrote Old English manuscripts on Grammar, Colloquy, Catholic Homilies, saint’s lives, and the Bible. His manuscripts have been extensively studied over the last thousand years. This conference engages with this prominent author’s afterlives.

July 2025

Tue 1 July 2025

Lecture | Chŏng Yagyong’s Political Theory of Meritocracy

Sungmoon Kim (City University of Hong Kong) presents Chŏng Yagyong’s vision of a new public world in terms of meritocracy. Chŏng’s meritocratic vision of the public world led him to champion absolute kingship as the centre of legal order and political stability that could support economic meritocracy and merit-based citizenship. 

August 2025

Mon 25 August 2025 - Wed 27 August 2025

Conference | Colloquium on African Languages and Linguistics

This conference explores all kinds of aspects of African languages and linguistics. It also holds a special workshop on ‘Tone and intonation in African languages.’ The format of the conference is hybrid.

Sat 30 August 2025

WML Event | Pasar Leiden

Pasar Leiden is een van de belangrijkste culturele evenementen van Leiden, met als doel de rijke Indo-cultuur en de banden met Indonesië te vieren. Het onderzoekt de relatie tussen de Indische en Indonesische gemeenschappen en brengt de historische en culturele context van Indonesië dichter bij het publiek. 

September 2025

Sat 13 September 2025 - Sun 14 September 2025

Open Monumentendag 2025

De Open Monumentendagen bieden de mogelijkheid om een deel van de ruim 3000 monumenten in Leiden te ontdekken. Het thema van 2025 is ‘Architectonisch erfgoed: Gebouw(d) om te blijven’. Dit thema biedt een kijk op het verleden, met extra aandacht voor architecten en hun meesterwerken, bouwstijlen en tijdperken en ambacht en vakmanschap.

Mon 15 September 2025 - Sat 20 September 2025

RMO lezingen | Week van het oude schrift

In de oudheid waren in het Middellandse Zeegebied en het oude Nabije Oosten diverse schriftsystemen in gebruik. In het Rijksmuseum van Oudheden staat de rijke schrifttraditie uit deze regio’s centraal. Experts geven zes lezingen over schriften en de talen waarin ze werden gebruikt.

Thu 18 September 2025

Conferentie | Brave New World 2025

De werelden van kunst, cultuur, filosofie, wetenschap, technologie en storytelling komen op deze jaarlijkse Art & Science conferentie samen. In deze 10e editie bespreken we welke ethische en maatschappelijke impact nieuwe technologieën zouden kunnen hebben op het menselijk leven, voordat de innovaties in de maatschappij worden geïntroduceerd.

Fri 19 September 2025

WML Evenement | Imagine Peace: Vrede, kunst en antisemitisme

Deze middag gaat over pijn die niet altijd zichtbaar is. Antisemitisme is een sluipend onrecht, met diepe sporen. Tegelijk is er ook kracht: in verhalen, in muziek, in kunst. Tijdens deze bijeenkomst delen kunstenaars en ervaringsdeskundigen hun perspectieven. We staan stil bij uitsluiting en onveiligheid, maar ook bij verbinding. 

Sat 20 September 2025

Festival | De Nacht van Ontdekkingen

Tijdens dit kunst- en kennisfestival ontdek je op verschillende plekken beginnende makers, jonge onderzoekers en kunstenaars. Een ware ontdekkingstocht langs muzikale optredens, exposities, theatervoorstellingen, debatten, workshops en inspirerende lezingen rondom de thema's kunst en wetenschap.

Fri 26 September 2025

Festival | European Day of Languages

This festival is all about languages! Languages open up worlds. They connect people, cultures, and ideas. On the European Day of Languages, Leiden University showcases the diversity of languages and linguistic expertise present in Leiden. An inspiring programme is organised to introduce the fascinating world of languages.

October 2025

Thu 2 October 2025

ASCL seminar | On Africa and colonial discourse

Muyiwa Falaiye (University of Lagos) finds that colonialism is often perceived either as isolated episodes in Africa’s past or as a transformative force that has reshaped its societies, ways of thinking, and worldviews. In this hybrid seminar, he examines these narratives within the broader debate on decolonization.

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? 

November 2025

Fri 7 November 2025

WML Event | Imagine Peace: Justice beyond borders and time

rechtvaardigheid-voorbij-grenzen-en-kloktijd-

In many indigenous cultures, time and borders exist differently than we are used to. They move with nature, with the community, with the seasons. In this session, we learn from Spanish and Latin American indigenous wisdom. How do they approach time and space? How does this contribute to a balanced way of living with nature?