Anniversary essay
The essay For progress has been published to mark the 450th Dies Natalis of Leiden University. In 2025, we are celebrating our 450th anniversary, and the theme of this special year is Ahead of the Times.
Leiden University was founded to serve society and freedom – two principles set forth by William of Orange that have guided us ever since. Yet these have always been fraught with challenges. What kind of freedom was intended, and whose? And what exactly did it mean to serve? The two principles could be in direct conflict with one another. How has the academic community navigated these tensions and how can it continue to do so? In this essay, Pieter Slaman takes the reader on a fast-paced journey through history in search of answers to these questions. The journey concludes with a call to action for Leiden University today.
Pieter Slaman is the university historian at Leiden University, supported by the A.E. Cohen Fund. He serves as Assistant Professor at the Dual PhD Centre and the Institute for History, and as an adviser to the Department of Strategy and Academic Affairs at the Department of Administration and Central Services. His previous publications include De glazen toren. De Leidse universiteit 1970-2020 and In de regel vrij. 100 jaar politiek rond onderwijs, cultuur en wetenschap. He received his PhD in 2015 on the history of student grants and loans in the Netherlands.
Anniversary essay download
For progress is available for download in English and Dutch. Printed copies can be requested at 450@leidenuniv.nl.