Heritage is the legacy of all generations, from ancient archaeological sites, artefacts and crafts to stories, regional food and today’s allotment gardens. A better understanding of the different meanings attached to these material and immaterial traditions can help bring different social groups closer together. This is how we help resolve society’s major challenges.

Leiden conducts world-leading heritage research in centres where various academic disciplines converge. We draw on extensive knowledge and diverse research methods in our work with a wide range of partners across the Netherlands, Europe and around the globe,. Where possible, we involve the public (citizen science). We focus on the meaning and emergence of heritage as part of social diversity.

Our research includes studies of endangered languages and cultures, archaeological sites, historical museum collections, heritage communities and world heritage. This allows us to contribute to the public debate on, for example, human rights and heritage, ownership and access to colonial and/or contested heritage, landscape and climate change, heritage and well-being, and digital heritage. With the knowledge this yields, we deepen our understanding of identity and cultural diversity around the world.