Signed 北京: 周培春畫 Beijing: Zhou Peichun hua – Chinese paintings for foreign visitors

At the beginning of the 20th century, Chinese painter Zhou Peichun started mass-producing beautiful watercolour paintings depicting life in Beijing. Rosalien van der Poel writes about two of his paintings that were recently restored by textile conservator Sjoukje Telleman.

Guest author • October 26, 2021

More than a costume party. Costumes for the Leiden Student Pageant of 1910

Within the field of costume history, fancy dress can be a rather complicated and neglected category. Are we looking at ‘fake’ clothes or well-made imitations? Research can reveal some interesting facts about its production, its previous owners, and their motives for ordering these clothes.

• October 12, 2021

The early years of mathematics education at Leiden University (1575-1645)

Leiden University was one of the first universities in Europe to offer a practical mathematics course, taught in vernacular, parallel to a theoretical course. Why was this practical course taught and what did it teach students? The lecture notes of one of its first teachers can tell us a lot.

Guest author • September 28, 2021

'So Crisp and Scenic' - Early Sranan and the Birth of a New Age

The Sranan language, an English-based creole spoken by people of Suriname, has a long and fascinating history and is gaining popularity as a written language. Fresco Sam-Sin talks about the history of Sranan using documents from our Special Collections and by sharing part of his own story.

Guest author • September 01, 2021

Raden Ajeng Kartini (1879-1904). Pioneer for women’s rights in the Dutch East Indies/Indonesia

After her untimely death, now more than a century ago, Kartini's testament in the form of her correspondence reminds us of her enduring legacy.

Doris Jedamski • June 22, 2021

An Edict Issued by the Wanli Emperor - Three Students Report on a Ming Dynasty Manuscript

In December 2020 the University Library acquired a Ming edict once in the collection of the Dutch sinologist Robert van Gulik. Three Chinese Studies students report on its restoration and academic relevance.

Guest author • June 08, 2021

Portraits of Leiden University

Leiden University Libraries recently acquired a rare eighteenth-century book at an auction in Belgium. It concerns a collection of engraved portraits of Leiden professors, supplemented with a city plan and several engravings of Leiden cityscapes.

Kasper van Ommen • May 18, 2021

A new puzzle piece in the life of Irawan Soejono

At the beginning of the Second World War, a lot of Indonesian students attended university in the Netherlands. One of the best-known Indonesian students is Irawan Soejono. Struck by his story, we discovered new information about his whereabouts and activities during his time as a resistance fighter.

Guest author • May 04, 2021

Leiden University’s third centenary and jubilee (1875)

The fifteenth of June 1875 was a pleasant and warm day. Some menacing clouds threatened to throw a spanner in the works, but luckily the rain never came. Fortunate for the crowds gathering in Leiden, as on this day, Leiden University celebrated its three hundredth anniversary.

Jef Schaeps • April 20, 2021

Signed 北京: 周培春 畫 Beijing: Zhou Peichun hua – Chinese paintings for foreign visitors