Research project
Preliminary Research into the Colonial and Slavery History of the City of Leiden and Leiden University
How did our academic community position itself in relation to a system that deprived people of their freedom? What role did the university, as an educational institution, play with regard to colonialism and the system of slavery? How can we best engage with and manage our special collections?
- Duration
- 2023 - 2025
- Contact
- Alicia Schrikker
In order to gain insight into possible connections between Leiden University and the colonial and slavery past, a preliminary study was launched in 2023 to inventory available sources and existing research.
In parallel, a preliminary study is being conducted on the city of Leiden. While the close involvement of Leiden—as an industrial and university city—in colonial and slavery history may seem less evident than that of port cities, the entanglement of Leiden’s local history with colonialism and slavery manifests itself in various ways. What was the significance of colonial connections and slavery within the city and its society?
As a first step toward answering this question, a preliminary investigation into the colonial and slavery past of the city of Leiden was initiated. The results were presented in April 2025.
More information is available on the Dutch side of this project page.