Aholi So is a Lecturer at the BA International Studies and Sinologist. His interests lies in the continuity and sustainability of minority cultural heritage practices, in particular contested and “endangered” heritage. He examines how Dutch practitioners of Chinese descents exercise agency in shaping Sinitic cultural heritage language practices in the contemporary Netherlands.

More information about Aholi So

Fields of interest

• Heritage and Identity
• Language Policy and Planning
• Intergenerational transmission of Heritage Practices in Migration Context
• Sinitic Heritage Languages

Research

Heritage practices are passed down across generations, yet each transmission is unique. These practices carry meaning for individuals, communities, and nations, but they are also interpreted differently by others. Understanding these differences helps us see how heritage can both connect and divide social groups. Through my research, I aim to contribute to a deeper understanding of these dynamics and to bring people closer together in conversations about heritage. I examine the dynamics that shape the continuity of cultural heritage at the individual level and am particularly interested in how practitioners of minority cultural heritage practices in the Netherlands navigate their everyday environments and sustain their heritage in the present day.

Heritage is inherently contested: present‑day actors and institutions often promote particular interpretations of the past, shaping the conditions under which people can practise and transmit their heritage. Within these circumstances, practitioners themselves make decisions about what their heritage will look like in the future. The form of heritage I am examining is linguistic heritage, with a focus on the agentive role of its practitioners. In my current research, I explore how Dutch practitioners of Chinese descents understand and engage with their linguistic heritage, and how this shapes their sense of identity in light of the prominence of Mandarin Chinese and the People’s Republic of China.

By centring the perspectives of the practitioners themselves and the challenges they face, my work aims to inform heritage professionals and policymakers, while empower voices that have long been underrepresented in public and academic discourse. I believe this will contribute to ongoing discussions about safeguarding cultural heritage, social cohesion, and the role of heritage in diverse societies such as the Netherlands.

Curriculum Vitae

Currently, I am a Lecturer at Leiden University and a PhD Candidate at the University of Amsterdam. In addition, I am one of the twelve Faces of Science for 2026 and serve on the advisory board of the Dutch Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage (Kenniscentrum Immaterieel Erfgoed Nederland). Previously, I completed my MA (research) and BA at Leiden University and my BSc at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences.

Teaching

As lecturer at International Studies, I teach a variety courses from diverse disciplinary fields, emphasising multidisciplinary knowledge, geographical specialisation, language training, and global awareness. Currently, I coordinate the Language and Culture of East Asia course.