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:20260424T103636 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?

During the annual Abraham Kuyper Lecture on Thursday 21 May 2026, the theme ‘The Value of Human Effort’< /em> takes centre stage. Through a range of artistic forms, the progr amme explores how authenticity comes into being, and what is lost whe n human intention, experience and presence are absent.

Writer i n Residence Thomas Heerma van Voss opens the evening by examining authenticity through literature. He reflects on what it means for our appreciation of texts when words become detached from human experience and intention. Next, computer scientist Feli enne Hermans demonstrates that digital systems and programmi ng languages are also shaped by human choices and ways of thinking. F inally, Assistant Professor of Art History Klazina 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 shared reality also becomes more fragile. Within the VU’s annual theme, global citizen s, this raises the question of how, in a complex world shaped by tech nological change, we can continue to collectively make sense of what is true 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 Voss
Read the interview with Felienne Hermans

* The Abraham Kuy per Lecture is in Dutch, but can be followed in English via a transla tion app.

The Abraham Kuyper Lecture is partly made possibl e by: VUvereniging | Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities.< br>

DESCRIPTION: During the annual Abraham Kuyper Lecture on Thursday 21 M ay 2026, the theme ‘The Value of Human Effort’ takes cen tre stage. Through a range of artistic forms, the programme explores how authenticity comes into being, and what is lost when human intent ion, experience and presence are absent. Writer in Residence Thomas Heerma van Voss opens the evening by examining authen ticity through literature. He reflects on what it means for our appre ciation of texts when words become detached from human experience and intention. Next, computer scientist Felienne Hermans demonstrates that digital systems and programming languages are als o shaped by human choices and ways of thinking. Finally, Assistant Pr ofessor of Art History Klazina 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 b ecomes less recognisable, our shared reality also becomes more fragil e. Within the VU’s annual theme, global citizens, this raises the q uestion of how, in a complex world shaped by technological change, we can continue to collectively make sense of what is true and what is valuable. The VU Chamber Choir will close the progra mme with a live choral performance, placing the human voice, breath a nd interplay at its heart. Moderator: Roos van Rijswijk Read the intervie w with Thomas Heerma van Voss
Read the interview with Felienne Herm ans * 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 an d Humanities.

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