Annual Overview 2024
2024 was an eventful year for the Faculty of Humanities. Despite becoming the centre of political discussion and budget cuts as faculty ourselves, exceptional research projects were carried out and new initiatives were launched.
January
- The supercomputer ALICE was expanded.
- Thijs Porck discovered a thousand-year-old manuscript in Alkmaar book bindings.
- Former Secretary of State Fleur Gräper visited to discuss heritage.
- A research project was initiated into the university's colonial past.
- Looted art was returned to Sri Lanka.
- Professor Mariken Teeuwen delivered her inaugural lecture on medieval manuscripts.
- Professor Ad Maas explored the relationship between museum collections and the rule of law in his inaugural lecture.
February
- Deans and secondary school students visited lecture halls to learn more about the faculty.
- International Mother Language Day celebrated linguistic diversity.
- Herta Mohr was chosen as the namesake of the newest HUM building.
- An online database of 200 chronicle texts was launched.
- A book series about slavery and emancipation was released.
March
- A series of knowledge clips about cultural contacts between East and West in the early Middle Ages was published online.
- De nieuwe gastschrijver werd bekend: Ronald Giphart kreeg de eer.
- Er verscheen een uitleg bij Nietzsches Zarathoestra.
- Professor Nivja de Jong delivered her inaugural lecture on second language acquisition and didactics.
- In his inaugural lecture Professor Frans Willem Korsten explored the relationship between literature and law.
April
- Researchers from ACPA and LIAS organised a course for professionals on sound in public spaces.
- Professor Florian Schneider delivered his inaugural lecture about technology and China.
- In her inaugural lecture Professor Nadine Akkerman focused on the role of scribes.
May
- The tenth anniversary of PRINS was celebrated.
- The Humanities Lab also marked its ten-year anniversary.
- The Faculty Board moved into the Herta Mohr building.
- Preliminary research began on Leiden's relationship with colonialism.
June
- Writer Naomi Rebekka Boekwijt presented her latest novel in Plexus.
- A new Dutch-Ancient Greek dictionary was presented.
- Professor Sarah Cramsey delivered her inaugural lecture on the care of children and the Holocaust.
July
- A research project on historical biodiversity in Leiden's city centre was launched.
- Alumni presented the book 'Swiping for a Quarrel'.
August
- International Studies students received their diplomas.
September
- In her internship, master's student Evi van Stiphout focused on the relationship between Surinamese textiles and the Leiden Cotton Company.
- The last research traineeship was concluded.
- Professor Michaël Peyrot delivered his inaugural lecture on the history of Indo-European languages.
October
- Students researched the history of the Relief of Leiden, while university lecturer Olga van Marion analysed choral crackers.
- The opening was celebrated of the new Herta Mohr building.
- Journalism and New Media master's students created a podcast version of College Tour with Twan Huys.
November
- Professor Manon van der Heijden explored The Hague's crime history with students.
- Many colleagues participated in the large demonstration against higher education budget cuts in The Hague.
- Henk te Velde became the new interim dean.
- Professor Sarah Wolff’s inaugural lecture explored the future of Europe.
- Professor Alwin Kloekhorst held his inaugural lecture on the Anatolian languages.
December
- The new Humanities Hub was opened.
- Beatrice de Graaf delivered the Huizinga Lecture.