On Friday afternoon, 19 September, the Research School Political History officially opened the academic year at the Allard Pierson in Amsterdam.
We were honored to welcome historian prof. dr. Gert Oostindie as keynote speaker. In his lecture Colonialism & Memory Wars, Oostindie discussed the recent resurgence of interest in Dutch colonial history within society and politics. He reflected on the reasons behind this renewed attention, the role of historians in shaping the debate, and the merits, challenges, and pitfalls of the current boom in critical colonial studies.

The first module of the PhD basic training program introduces participants to the professional standards of the field and to the discipline of political history. In the morning, we reflect on research integrity and professional codes of conduct, including the Netherlands Code of Conduct for Research Integrity and the recently revised Standards for Historians. In the afternoon, we turn to the question “What is political history?” and explore how the field has expanded from the study of institutions to a broader, interdisciplinary understanding of the political in its many forms. More information.

The Training Program 2025-2026 for PhD’s and RMA students is now available online and as a handy brochure. To receive the printed brochure, please send an email to bureau@onderzoekschoolpolitiekegeschiedenis.nl.