Dutch language-course in May-June 2025 for Graduate Students (tuition-free)
Applications are invited for a month-long course (“the summer course”) in modern Dutch, early modern
Dutch/paleography, and archival research in Amsterdam/The Hague* (‘the archival week’). The first two
sections can be taken separately. The third section, in the Netherlands, requires participation in one or both
of the first two sections. The course is free-of-charge. Funding has been provided through the Union for the
Dutch Language (Taalunie).
Students may apply to the first section (Modern Dutch for Reading Knowledge), and/or the second section
(Early Modern Dutch/Paleography). Participation in the third section, the Archival week in the Netherlands,
requires participation in either or both other sections. A single letter of application will suffice for any
section(s) of the course, but applicants should be sure to include the appropriate supporting materials for
the particular section(s) of the course to which application is being made. Applicants are requested to clearly
state which sections they are applying to, by stating it in boldface on the letter of purpose.
*Participants in the Archival Week must make arrangements for their own accommodations and flight.
Travel expenses within the country may be covered depending on additional funding.
APPLICATIONS FOR WEEKS I & II AND WEEK III ARE DUE APRIL 1, 2025
APPLICATIONS FOR WEEK IV ARE DUE MARCH 15, 2025
Schedule:
two weeks of Modern Dutch for Reading Knowledge (through zoom)
week I: Monday May 19 through Thursday May 22
week II: Tuesday May 27 through Friday May 30
both weeks 10:30 a.m. – 12:15 and 1:45 – 3:30 p.m (New York time)
one week of 17th-century Dutch/paleography (in person at Columbia University, New York)
week III: Monday June 9 through Thursday June 12
morning session: 9:30 – 12:00
afternoon session: 1:30 – 4:00
one week archival workshop in the Netherlands (The Hague/Amsterdam/Haarlem)
week IV: Monday June 16 through Friday June 20 (program is subject to change)
The Hague program: Nationaal Archief, Koninklijke Bibliotheek, RKD (Rijks Kunsthistorisch Documentatiecentrum
Amsterdam program: Stadsarchief, Universiteit van Amsterdam Bijzondere collecties, Scheepvaartmuseum, Prentenkabinet Rijksmuseum
Haarlem program: Noordhollands Archief
Descriptions of the courses and requirements for admission to each section
Week I & II: Modern Dutch for Reading Knowledge
This section will cover reading strategies, grammar and vocabulary of modern Dutch.
Open to all students with 2 semesters of Dutch (or 3 semesters of German) at the college level or equivalent.
Applicants must submit evidence of sufficient competence in the language, and submit a letter of purpose
explaining their reason for application. Preference will be given to students enrolled in a PhD program, but
M.A. students/Faculty members may apply as well. Applicants who are unsure if their level of Dutch is
satisfactory should contact Wijnie de Groot (wed23@columbia.edu).
Week III: 17th-century Dutch texts/paleography workshop
The workshop will cover reading strategies of 17th-century printed and handwritten texts. The paleography
part of the week will be taught by Dr. Frans Blom of the University of Amsterdam.
Open to all students with 3 semesters or more of Dutch or 4 semesters of German at the college level or
equivalent. Applicants must submit evidence of competence in the language. In addition, applicants must
submit a letter of purpose explaining their reason for application.
Preference will be given to students enrolled in a PhD program, but M.A. students/Faculty members
may apply as well. Applicants who are unsure if their level of Dutch is satisfactory should contact Wijnie de
Groot (wed23@columbia.edu).
Week IV: Archival workshop in the Netherlands
This workshop (in collaboration with the University of Amsterdam) will take place in the Netherlands (it
includes (subject to change) visits to the Royal Library, National Archive and RKD (Netherlands Institute for
Art History) in the Hague, the Amsterdam City Archive and University of Amsterdam Special Collections, and
the Provincial Archive in Haarlem/Noord-Hollands Archief) and will introduce students to 16th and 17th
century archives and other resources (such as the Maritime Museum and the Print Room at the Rijksmuseum
in Amsterdam).
Space for this week will be limited to a maximum of ten students, and is highly competitive. The workshop
will take place from June 16 to 20.
Preference will be given to PhD candidates who are ready to start dissertation research. This week is
not open to M.A. students.
Email Wijnie de Groot at wed23@columbia.edu for additional information.
PREREQUISITES
Applicants for the Netherlands portion of the course (week IV) must
– have completed MA thesis and first year of graduate work at the PhD level;
– be currently enrolled in a PhD program;
– be at or close to the stage of planning the dissertation research and have a good idea of the kinds of sources
that will be needed to conduct research;
– submit a letter of support from advisor or principal faculty member: the letter should endorse the usefulness of
the trip and the archival experience, in the expectation that it will lead to archival work for the thesis;
– submit a letter of purpose: it should explain how the training will advance ongoing or planned research for a
doctoral thesis (including an indication of what stage the applicant is in their program: first-, second-year, etc.)
– have completed Weeks I&II and/or Week III (students who completed these in previous years are also invited
to apply).
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All applications, along with supporting documents,
should be emailed to Wijnie de Groot at wed23@columbia.edu.
Inquiries should also be directed to Wijnie de Groot.