Research

In our historical and art historical research, concepts such as institutions, violence and conflict, heritage, sustainability, security, democracy, culture and power occupy an important place. Our research offers insights into the mechanisms of inclusion and exclusion, especially in relation to gender, class, and ethnicity. In doing so, we consider all periods, from ancient and medieval times to the present, and study developments in specific contexts and over the long term.

Global interaction and comparison

Geographically, our research increasingly broadens beyond the borders of the Netherlands and Europe to look at other parts of the world, from Africa and the Middle East to Latin America and Asia (and Indonesia in particular). Here, we focus on the cultural, commercial and (post)colonial interaction with those continents, and also compare those regions with Europe and with each other.

(Inter)disciplinary 

Our research has a solid disciplinary basis, and also hosts a lively diversity of theoretical concepts and interdisciplinary methods. We explore, develop and use natural science, social science and digital methods with a view to renewing our research.

Research groups

Across research group boundaries, we collaborate in:

  • ArtLab

    The ArtLab brings together research activities in technical studies, digital methodologies, citizen science and heritage, providing a space for students and researchers to explore the latest techniques for studying art and cultural heritage. 

  • Heritage and Public History Lab (in Dutch)

    Traces of the past are a source of information and pleasure, create economic value, shape personal and collective identities, and not infrequently create divisions. The lab encourages reflection on the power of the past by connecting education, research and the practice of heritage and public history.

  • Network Business in Transition

    The network studies how business reacted and anticipated societal questions and challenges in the past, contributing to the interpretation of contemporary issues, from three angles: sustainability, globalisation and entrepreneurship.
    (website in Dutch)

  • Research Network for Culture, Law and the Body

    In this network, we bring together approaches to law and the body from different disciplines (including history, law, anthropology, sociology, gender studies) to explore how they have mutually shaped each other.