Does the graffiti artist Banksy create art or cultural heritage? Which objects would you include in an exhibit about Egypt? Which texts should you use for an exhibition, and how can you involve children and youth in setting up an online exhibition? If you are interested in history, there is a vast world at your feet that you can explore endlessly. This will also help you understand how we view events today. History is all around us and it’s captivating!
In recent years, more attention has been given to tangible and intangible heritage and we are recognising the value it can have for future generations. More and more archives are being created and people's private collections are being incorporated into those of museums. Whether it’s theatre costumes, objects from the Roman Empire, archaeological excavations, or objects found in a cesspit that reveal exactly what a household’s diet consisted of during a particular period—it’s all fascinating. You can also look at how artists in certain times viewed the world and shared their interpretations of reality through paintings, from classical to abstract, from cubist art to pop art, from romanticism to neo-classicism and from impressionism to Dadaism.
At VU Amsterdam, history is studied from the perspective of a curator or researcher, with a social science and historical outlook, so that you can understand how a society has been established. You will learn about international relations between countries and about the history of Europe from ancient times to the present day. If you want to know more about contemporary art, then you can examine visual and digital art created in recent years, such as installations or more performance-based expressions. And last but not least, you can also delve into history by studying classical languages. This can give you an impression of the time when these languages were still alive and spoken, while also learning about politics, society and religion. History is made every single day. Do you want to dedicate yourself to it?
Choose your Bachelor's or Master's programme in history at VU Amsterdam
Find out which Bachelor's and Master's programmes include history in their curriculum and come study at VU Amsterdam. Make sure to check out the ‘Future’ tab of the programme webpage if you want to know what you can do after your studies. We hope to see you at one of our online activities or at an education fair abroad!
