21 April 2026

Heritage is one of the themes which Leiden University will highlight, strengthen and showcase in the years to come. Foregrounding interdisciplinary and interfaculty cooperation, a focal team consisting of Erik de Maaker (Social Sciences), Sybille Lammes (Humanities), Carsten Stahn (Law) and Jan Kolen (Archaeology) will facilitate the expansion and consolidation of the Leiden heritage community. We invite everyone who would like to place their research in a context of heritage to join us for a kick-off meeting to be held on May 13, 15:00-17:00 hours at Social Sciences (Agora building). 

We have drafted a position paper (attached) in which we propose a ‘decentered’ approach to heritage, in order to allow us to exceed our disciplinary silos. We invite all to reflect on the draft which we have written, and share how it connects to your own research agenda. Please sign up to indicate your attendance, and let us know whether you would like to give a short pitch to share your insights, comments and suggestions during the event. Complete with coffee, tea, and snacks, this is also a great opportunity for researchers to expand their personal network. 

Please share this announcement with others who may be interested. Together let’s explore heritage across disciplinary boundaries!