BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam//NONSGML v1.0//EN NAME:Abraham Kuyper Lecture METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART:20260521T193000 DTEND:20260521T213000 DTSTAMP:20260521T193000 UID:abraham-kuyper-lecture@8F96275E-9F55-4B3F-A143-836282E12573 CREATED:20260913T221710 LOCATION:Main building VU, 1105, Aula, De Boelelaan, 1081 HV, Amsterdam SUMMARY:Abraham Kuyper Lecture X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:

Images, texts and mu sic are increasingly created without a human maker. What does this me an for our sense of authenticity? And how does it change the way we l ook, read and listen?

On 21 May from 19:30 you can also follow the Abraham Kuyper Lecture by livestream.

During the annual Abraham Kuyper Lecture on Thursday 21 May 2026, the theme ‘The Value of Human Effort� �� takes centre stage. Through a range of artistic forms, the pr ogramme explores how authenticity comes into being, and what is lost when human intention, experience and presence are absent.

Write r in Residence Thomas Heerma van Voss opens the even ing by examining authenticity through literature. He reflects on what it means for our appreciation of texts when words become detached fr om human experience and intention. Next, computer scientist F elienne Hermans demonstrates that digital systems and progra mming languages are also shaped by human choices and ways of thinking . Finally, Assistant Professor of Art History Klazina Botke explores how we assign value and meaning to art. After all, w ho decides what is real, and on what basis do we place our trust?

When authenticity becomes less recognisable, our shared reality a lso becomes more fragile. Within the VU’s annual theme, global citi zens, this raises the question of how, in a complex world shaped by t echnological change, we can continue to collectively make sense of wh at is true and what is valuable.

The VU Chamber Choir will close the programme with a live choral performance, plac ing the human voice, breath and interplay at its heart.

Moderat or: Roos van Rijswijk

Read the interview with Thomas Heerma van Vos s
Read the interview with Felienne Hermans

* The Abraham Kuyper Lecture is in Dutch, but can be followed in English via a tran slation app.

The Abraham Kuyper Lecture is partly made poss ible by: VUvereniging | Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities.

DESCRIPTION: Images, texts and music are increasingly created without a human maker. What does this mean for our sense of authenticity? And how does it change the way we look, read and listen? On 21 May from 19:30 you can also follow the Abraham Kuyper Lecture by < /strong>livestream.

During the annual A braham Kuyper Lecture on Thursday 21 May 2026, the theme ‘The V alue of Human Effort’ takes centre stage. Through a range of a rtistic forms, the programme explores how authenticity comes into bei ng, and what is lost when human intention, experience and presence ar e absent.Writer in Residence Thomas Heerma van Voss opens the evening by examining authenticity through literature. He re flects on what it means for our appreciation of texts when words beco me detached from human experience and intention. Next, computer scien tist Felienne Hermans demonstrates that digital syst ems and programming languages are also shaped by human choices and wa ys of thinking. Finally, Assistant Professor of Art History K lazina Botke explores how we assign value and meaning to art . After all, who decides what is real, and on what basis do we place our trust?

When authenticity becomes less recognisable, our sh ared reality also becomes more fragile. Within the VU’s annual them e, global citizens, this raises the question of how, in a complex wor ld shaped by technological change, we can continue to collectively ma ke sense of what is true and what is valuable.The VU Chamber Choir will close the programme with a live choral performanc e, placing the human voice, breath and interplay at its heart.Moderat or: Roos van RijswijkRead the interview with Thomas Heerma van VossRea d the interview with Felienne Hermans* The Abraham Kuyper Lecture is in Dutch, but can be followed in English via a translation app.The Abraham Kuyper Lecture is partly made possible by: VUvereniging | Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities.

END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR