CFA: 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).

The course has three distinct sections, and 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 1, 2 AND 3 ARE DUE APRIL 1, 2025

APPLICATIONS FOR WEEK 4 ARE DUE MARCH 15, 2025

 

Schedule

 

two weeks of Modern Dutch for Reading Knowledge (through zoom)

week 1: Monday May 19 through Thursday May 22

week 2: 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 3: 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 4: Monday June 16 through Friday June 20

 

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 the equivalent of 2 semesters or more of Dutch (or 4 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 the equivalent of 3 semesters or more of Dutch or 2 full years 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.

Applicants who are unsure if their level of Dutch is satisfactory should contact Wijnie de Groot (wed23@columbia.edu). Preference will be given to students enrolled in a PhD program, but M.A. students/Faculty members may apply as well. 

 

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 Week 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.

See also: