Lecture
A conversation with Erik Akerboom, Directeur general of the General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD)
- Directeur General Akerboom
- Date
- Monday 1 December 2025
- Time
- Explanation
- please note: free entrance, but registration required
- Address
- Wijnhaven
Turfmarkt 99
2511 VP Den Haag - Room
- 2.01
Honouring the legacy of Arthur Docters van Leeuwen
This annual lecture series honors the legacy of Arthur Docters van Leeuwen, a transformative figure in Dutch intelligence. As Director of the National Security Service (Binnenlandse Veiligheidsdienst, BVD) from 1989 to 1995, Mr. Docters van Leeuwen redefined the place of intelligence in the Dutch political system, public administration, and broader society. Under his leadership, the BVD evolved from a Cold War-era institution into a modern service attuned to the demands of contemporary democracy. His pioneering reflections on the role and function of domestic intelligence in the Netherlands continue to resonate within the intelligence community and provide a sound basis for academic research and public debate.
Each year, the Intelligence and Security Research Group at Leiden University invites an intelligence leader to celebrate the legacy of Arthur Docters van Leeuwen and share their vision for intelligence in a democratic society.
This year’s lecture, the first in the series, will be delivered by Erik Akerboom, Director General of the General Intelligence and Security Service (Algemene Inlichtingen- en Veiligheidsdienst, AIVD), offering a unique opportunity to learn from a prominent figure in Dutch intelligence.