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:2026/abraham-kuyper-lecture@8F96275E-9F55-4B3F-A143-836282E12573 CREATED:20260603T163825 LOCATION:Hoofdgebouw, Aula De Boelelaan 1105 1081 HV Amsterdam SUMMARY:Abraham Kuyper Lecture X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:

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 al so follow the Abraham Kuyper Lecture by livestream.

During the annual Abraham Kuyper Lecture on Thu rsday 21 May 2026, the theme ‘The Value of Human Effort’ takes centre stage. Through a range of artistic forms, the programme explores how authenticity comes into being, and what is lost when hu man intention, experience and presence are absent.

Writer in Re sidence Thomas Heerma van Voss opens the evening by examining authenticity through literature. He reflects on what it mea ns for our appreciation of texts when words become detached from huma n experience and intention. Next, computer scientist Felienne Hermans demonstrates that digital systems and programming l anguages are also shaped by human choices and ways of thinking. Final ly, Assistant Professor of Art History Klazina Botke explores how we assign value and meaning to art. After all, who deci des what is real, and on what basis do we place our trust?

Whe n authenticity becomes less recognisable, our shared reality also bec omes more fragile. Within the VU’s annual theme, global citizens, t his raises the question of how, in a complex world shaped by technolo gical change, we can continue to collectively make sense of what is t rue and what is valuable.

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

Moderator: Roos van Rijswijk

Read 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.
< br>

DESCRIPTION: 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 2 026, the theme ‘The Value of Human Effort’ takes centre stage. Through a range of artistic forms, the programme explores how authenticity comes into being, and what is lost when human intention, experience and presence are absent. Writer in Residence Thom as Heerma van Voss opens the evening by examining authentici ty through literature. He reflects on what it means for our appreciat ion of texts when words become detached from human experience and int ention. Next, computer scientist Felienne Hermans de monstrates that digital systems and programming languages are also sh aped by human choices and ways of thinking. Finally, Assistant Profes sor of Art History Klazina Botke explores how we ass ign value and meaning to art. After all, who decides what is real, an d on what basis do we place our trust?

When authenticity becom es less recognisable, our shared reality also becomes more fragile. W ithin the VU’s annual theme, global citizens, this raises the quest ion of how, in a complex world shaped by technological change, we can continue to collectively make sense of what is true and what is valu able. The VU Chamber Choir will close the programme with a live choral performance, placing the human voice, breath and i nterplay at its heart. Moderator: Roos van Rijswijk Read the interview wi th Thomas Heerma van Voss
Read the interview with Felienne Hermans< /a> * The Abraham Kuyper Lecture is in Dutch, but can be followed in English via a translation app. The Abraham Kuyper Lecture is part ly made possible by: VUvereniging | Faculty of Social Sciences and Hu manities.

Images, texts and music are increasingly creat ed without a human maker. What does this mean for our sense of authen ticity? And how does it change the way we look, read and listen? END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR