Leiden Special Collections Blog

Manuscripts, Archives and Letters

Political propositions: Willem Bilderdijk’s legal dissertation

Many recognise Willem Bilderdijk as one of the greatest poets in Dutch literary history, but only few know that he was a rather famous lawyer, all thanks to his education in Leiden. Letters, lecture notes and other documents provide insight into his time as a law student at Leiden University.

Guest author • 09-03-2021

Manuscripts, Archives and Letters

Poet Anna van der Aar de Sterke and her all-female literary society 'Die Erg Denkt Vaart Erg In ’T Hart'

Leiden University student Evi Dijcks added a new chapter to Dutch literary history when she discovered the earliest all-female literary society in the Dutch Republic, founded in 1782. The discovery shows: 18th-century women did not wait around for men to include them in their literary activities.

Guest author • 23-02-2021

Maps and Atlases

Re-use of maps in times of paper scarcity during WW2

During the Second World War availability of paper was limited, so the backsides of old topographic map sheets were re-used to print new maps. The UBL Special Collections hold a complete series of WWII maps of the Netherlands, several of which were printed on the the backsides of older maps.

Martijn Storms • 09-02-2021

Asian Special Collections

The 1973 Chinese edition of the Communist Manifesto

A perfect edition for a perfect text.

Marc Gilbert • 26-01-2021

Manuscripts, Archives and Letters

Rumphius and his Ambonese Herbal, a series of unfortunate events

Whilst scientists have achieved undeniable successes over the centuries, many of them endured more than their fair share of disappointments, failures and disasters. Who deserves the title of most unfortunate scientist is still up for debate.

Guest author • 05-01-2021

Photography

Extreme example of Dutch ‘landscaping’, photographed by Marie-José Jongerius

"God created the world but the Dutch created the Netherlands", Descartes supposedly once said. Leiden University Libraries acquired 40 photographs by Dutch photographer Marie-José Jongerius (b. 1970), who photographed an extreme example of this Dutch passtime.

Maartje van den Heuvel + 1 other • 15-12-2020

leidenspecial&shy;collectionsblog — page 13

Political propositions: Willem Bilderdijk’s legal dissertation

Poet Anna van der Aar de Sterke and her all-female literary society 'Die Erg Denkt Vaart Erg In ’T Hart'

Re-use of maps in times of paper scarcity during WW2

The 1973 Chinese edition of the Communist Manifesto

Rumphius and his Ambonese Herbal, a series of unfortunate events

Extreme example of Dutch ‘landscaping’, photographed by Marie-José Jongerius

leidenspecialcollectionsblog — page 13