Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study Fellowship 2025 Announced
Are you passionate about uncovering lost histories, reclaiming cultural narratives, and making a meaningful impact in the world of heritage? If you’re a researcher, heritage expert, artist, journalist, archaeologist, or cultural activist from a formerly colonised country, this fellowship is your golden ticket!
The NIAS – NIOD – KITLV Fellowship: Moving Objects, Mobilising Culture at the Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study (NIAS) offers an unparalleled opportunity to dive deep into historical collections held in the Netherlands while fostering connections with communities and histories that stretch beyond national borders.
Why This Fellowship is a Game-Changer!
Imagine gaining access to archives, collections, and museums in the Netherlands that house artifacts from your country of origin. This fellowship is more than just research—it’s a chance to reclaim narratives, engage with lost objects, and contribute to global heritage discussions.
Supported by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, this fellowship is aimed at researchers who want to explore the social histories, valuation, and trajectories of objects beyond traditional institutional narratives. Whether you’re interested in restitution, social life of artifacts, or re-establishing connections between objects and their communities, this program provides the space and support to turn your vision into reality.
Fellowship Benefits
- Fully funded five-month research fellowship in the Netherlands (September 2025 – January 2026).
- Compensation for travel expenses within the Netherlands (up to €500).
- Access to world-renowned collections housed in institutions such as the Rijksmuseum, Wereldmuseum, Museum Bronbeek, and the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands.
- Research mentorship and institutional support from NIAS, NIOD, and KITLV.
- A unique platform to explore cultural heritage beyond the dominant state and institutional frameworks.
Who is Eligible?
This opportunity is open to researchers and professionals from formerly colonised countries with collections housed in the Netherlands. Applicants should have a background in one or more of the following fields:
- Historians
- Archaeologists
- Social Scientists
- Heritage Experts
- Artists
- Journalists
- Cultural Activists
Available Research Areas
- Cultural, historical, or ancestral objects housed in the Netherlands.
- Social histories and valuation of objects beyond restitution debates.
- Re-establishing connections between artifacts and their countries of origin.
- Exploring the significance of objects in contemporary cultural contexts.
How to Apply?
Applications for this prestigious fellowship require the following documents:
- Curriculum Vitae & list of publications or creative works.
- A research proposal (max 500 words) outlining the activities to be carried out.
- An outline of objects or collections to be researched (max 500 words).
- A reflection on how this research connects with the country of origin (max 500 words).
- A reflection on how this research can uncover new histories beyond mainstream narratives (max 500 words).
Selection will be carried out by an expert panel from NIAS, NIOD, and KITLV, prioritizing diverse disciplinary and regional backgrounds.
Application Deadline
The last date to apply for the NIAS – NIOD – KITLV Fellowship: Moving Objects, Mobilising Culture is 17 March 2025, 12:00 PM CET. Candidates will be informed of the selection results by the end of April 2025.