NETHERLANDS INSTITUTE FOR ADVANCED STUDY (NIAS-KNAW)
NIAS-NIOD-KITLV Fellowship
partial · phd
- 2 fellowships per roundPlaces available
- 5 months eachFellowship duration
- ~€500 travel (est.)Funding within the Netherlands
- 4 consortium museumsCollections access
- Hosted at NIASHost institution
- Formerly colonised countriesApplicant base
At a glance
partial
Funding
€1k
Max amount
Mar 17, 2027
Deadline
Formerly colonised countries with collections housed in the Netherlands
Country
Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study (NIAS-KNAW)
Provider
The NIAS-NIOD-KITLV Fellowship, titled Moving Objects, Mobilising Culture in the Context of (De)colonisation, supports researchers from formerly colonised countries who want to study collections and objects from their regions now held in the Netherlands. For the relevant academic year it offers 2 fellowships, each lasting 5 months in the first semester (roughly September to January), funded by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science through the Colonial Collections Consortium. Fellows gain research access to museums in the consortium, including the Wereldmuseum, Rijksmuseum, Museum Bronbeek, and the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands, and explore questions of restitution, social history, and alternative narratives. Funding covers travel within the Netherlands up to a total of 500 euros, with the fellowship hosted at NIAS and supported by NIOD and KITLV. Eligible applicants include historians, archaeologists, social scientists, heritage experts, artists, journalists, and cultural activists based in formerly colonised countries. Applications require a CV and four short statements of up to 500 words each, and candidates are selected by a committee from the 3 institutes. Because dates, the number of places, and funding can change each round, confirm the current-cycle figures and deadline on the official NIAS fellowships page before you apply.
What's covered
- Travel compensation — Compensation of travel costs within the Netherlands, up to a total of ~€500 (est.) for the fellowship period.
- Research access — Access to collections and archives in Colonial Collections Consortium museums, including the Wereldmuseum, Rijksmuseum, Museum Bronbeek, and the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands.
- Residency at NIAS — A 5-month research residency hosted at NIAS, with support from NIOD and KITLV.
- Academic environment — Membership of the NIAS community of fellows, with workspace and the institute's scholarly support.
- Research freedom — Scope to develop an independent research agenda on the social life of moving objects and questions of restitution.
How to apply
Applications are submitted online via the NIAS partnered fellowships application page before the published deadline.
- Confirm eligibility and focus — Check that you are based in an eligible formerly colonised country and that your research concerns relevant collections in the Netherlands.
- Prepare your statements — Write the four required statements (max 500 words each) covering activities, objects to research, alignment with the country of origin, and contribution to alternative histories.
- Assemble your CV — Prepare a CV including a list of publications, works, or products relevant to the fellowship.
- Submit the application — Upload your CV and statements through the NIAS application system before the deadline; contact the selection officer with any questions.
Eligibility
BackgroundResearchers and professionals based in formerly colonised countries, including historians, archaeologists, social scientists, heritage experts, artists, journalists, and cultural activists.
Research focusA proposed project on collections or objects originating from these regions and currently housed in the Netherlands.
EngagementA focus on alternative engagements with cultural heritage and on the needs and questions of the country of origin.
DocumentationAbility to submit the required CV and four short statements of up to 500 words each.
Selection values disciplinary, regional, and professional diversity and prioritises alternative engagements with cultural heritage over conventional academic credentials.
Eligible countries
Formerly colonised countries with collections housed in the Netherlands
Deadlines
First semester (Sept-Jan)~17 March 2027 (est.)
Selection
A committee with representatives from NIOD, NIAS, and KITLV selects the fellows based on the quality and relevance of the application and a balance of disciplinary, regional, and professional backgrounds. The process explicitly values alternative engagements with cultural heritage rather than academic credentials alone, and candidates are notified of the outcome by around the end of April.
Verified sources
- NIAS Fellowshipsnias.knaw.nlofficial
- NIAS (Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study)nias.knaw.nlofficial
About the provider
The Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study (NIAS) is an institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) that hosts researchers in the humanities and social sciences for residential fellowships. This fellowship is run jointly with NIOD (the Institute for War, Holocaust and Genocide Studies) and KITLV (the Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies).
Frequently asked questions
Answers below are best-effort estimates from the most recent application cycle. Values marked ~ or (est.) may shift year-to-year — confirm specifics on the official scholarship page.
What is the NIAS-NIOD-KITLV Fellowship?
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A 5-month research fellowship, titled Moving Objects, Mobilising Culture, for researchers from formerly colonised countries to study collections from their regions now held in the Netherlands.
How many fellowships are offered?
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Two fellowships are offered for the first semester (about September to January) of the relevant academic year.
Who can apply?
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Researchers and professionals based in formerly colonised countries, including historians, archaeologists, social scientists, heritage experts, artists, journalists, and cultural activists.
What funding is provided?
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It covers travel costs within the Netherlands up to a total of about ~€500 (est.), plus a research residency hosted at NIAS.
Which collections can fellows access?
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Collections in Colonial Collections Consortium museums such as the Wereldmuseum, Rijksmuseum, Museum Bronbeek, and the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands.
Who funds the fellowship?
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It is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science through the Colonial Collections Consortium.
What documents are required?
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A CV plus four short statements of up to 500 words each on activities, objects, alignment with the country of origin, and contribution to alternative histories.
How long is the fellowship?
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Each fellowship lasts 5 months, in the first semester of the academic year.
How do I apply?
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Applications are submitted online through the NIAS partnered fellowships application page before the deadline.
When is the deadline?
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Around mid-March (about 17 March 2027, 12:00 CET, est.); confirm the current-cycle date on the official page.
When will I hear the result?
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Candidates are notified of the outcome by around the end of April.
Where do I confirm the official details?
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On the official NIAS fellowships page, which lists the partnered fellowships, conditions, and deadlines.