Courses
The courses, ranging from Dutch Literature to Dutch Painting, are offered in two semesters and cover the period from the Late Middle Ages and the Golden Age to the present. The language of instruction is English. Participants in the Dutch Studies Program should therefore have sufficient English reading and writing skills.
Learning Dutch is not part of the Dutch Studies programme. Language courses are organised by the Language Centre. Contact them by email: languagecentre@rug.nl
Semester 1
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LBU018B05 |
various lecturers |
A series of lectures on a broad range of topics. Each lecture focuses on a particular aspect of Dutch history, politics, culture and arts. Topics include The Netherlands in World War II; Performing Arts in the Netherlands; Dutch Gender and Media; the Dutch and Humanitarianism; the Dutch Church Landscape; Dutch Political Culture; 16th and 17th-century Dutch Paintings; the Dutch Language and the Archaeology of Dutch Prehistory. |
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LBU031B05
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Dr. H.G. Knoeff
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Today western democracies run on what is generally referred to as “knowledge economies”. Innovation and knowledge-exchange are key concepts in ever increasing complicated societies. This is the outcome of a long historical process. The Dutch – particularly in the “Golden Age” – have played an important role in the making and circulation of scientific and technological ideas and discoveries. This course introduces you to some key moments in Dutch history of science and medicine. It is directed at developing an awareness of how the sciences are historically and culturally specific. Thus the sciences are not studied as autonomous and technical fields of knowledge and expertise, but the focus is on their philosophical, intellectual, moral, religious, political and economic contexts. Ultimately the course is aimed at critically questioning the “almighty” status of modern science and its heroes.
During the course, students are challenged to think about the concept of “objectivity”, the notions of “Scientific Revolution” and “scientific progress”, the import of commerce, colonialism, political and religious ideas, the complex ties between hard-core sciences, alchemy, astrology and witchcraft. Part of this course is an excursion to the Groningen University Museum. |
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LBU032B05 |
diverse docenten |
Dit vak is specifiek gericht op studenten die in het buitenland Nederlands studeren (BA of MA) en een semester of een jaar in Groningen doorbrengen als uitwisselingsstudent. |
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LBU044B05
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Literature and The Low Countries, 1800-2000
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Dr. J.E. Weijermars
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This literature course introduces students to Dutch literature from the 1870s to the 1960s. The course offers a survey of the highlights of Dutch nineteenth and twentieth century literature in relationship to the society and (cultural) history of the Low Countries. Students will learn to analyze the relationship between text and context, practice the cultural historical approach of literature and discuss the use of literature as a historical source. Students will also learn to analyze study the mechanisms of canonization and (literary) history writing. Primary texts include Multatuli’s Max Havelaar, Couperus The hidden force and Two Women of Harry Mulisch.
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LBU038B10
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Academic English for International Students (Faculty of Arts students only)
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A.C. Vaatstra, M.R. Drury
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Through instructions, assignments, and feedback students work on their English proficiency. The course focusses on writing, reading, and speaking English in academic contexts. Students work on other aspects which are often problematic for international students such as grammar, collocations, and vocabulary through guided self-study. Another important aspect is the development of academic skills, such as critical thinking, argumentation, source use and integration, and research.
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LBU039B05
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Dr. W.M. Jongman
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This course deals with the history of the Netherlands from the end of the middle ages to the second half of the twentieth century from an international and national perspective. Developments in social structure, economics and economic and social policy will be emphasized. In the lectures focus will be put on typical elements of the Dutch society in this period, such as: the Golden Age, international trade, late industrialization, the strong position of agro-industry and colonial industry, pillarization and rural developments. Furthermore, attention will be paid to the Dutch colonial empire in the Caribbean and Asia.
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LBU041B05
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Prof. J.Herman
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The Netherlands stand out amongst the many actors involved in international humanitarian action. For one, the Dutch state is one of the most fervent supporters of (inter)governmental action to alleviate suffering worldwide. As a consequence, through financing operations and staffing organisations, The Netherlands exert great influence. Secondly, Dutch civil society has given birth to a multitude of non-governmental humanitarian organisations, recognized globally for professionalism, zeal and tenacity.
This introductory course to humanitarian action aims to provide to University of Groningen students from various academic backgrounds an appreciation of contemporary challenges faced in supporting the most vulnerable populations in societies around the globe. Be it man-made or natural disasters, the politicization of aid, the militarization of aid, the impact of the financial crisis, security concerns, gender awareness, growing demands for accountability and transparency, all issues shape present day humanitarianism. The Netherlands play a key role in dealing with these challenges, because of past performance and current involvement. The Dutch perspective will be dealt with in all classes. |
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LBU042B05
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Prof. dr. C.J.M. Jansen, Dr. A.F. de Winter
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Most people agree that health is very important in their life. However, behaviour of people frequently does not match with their wish to stay healthy. Many people do not meet the guidelines for a healthy lifestyle. Unhealthy behaviors, such as poor dietary habits, physical inactivity, substance use or risky sexual behavior may increase the occurrence of disease and mortality. Participation in screening, e.g. breast cancer screening or STDs can facilitate early detection of a disease. However, participation in screening is not optimal and some groups in society are not reached. Effective health communication can contribute to better health of individuals and groups by informing, motivating, supporting and empowering them with the aim to create changes in behaviour.
In this course different communication challenges and possible solutions in the field of public health, screening and health care will be discussed. During the course students will increase their knowledge regarding the main challenges and opportunities for (more) effective health communication strategies in different situations, e.g. through written communication or patient-professional interaction, or by disseminating health information via mass-media. Communication with vulnerable groups in society will be an important theme. |
Semester 2
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LBU001B05
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Dr. M.E. Kluck
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Surveys the origin and history of the Dutch language, the differences and similarities between English, German, Frisian and Dutch. Topics include phonetics, morphology and syntax of Dutch; the Dutch language in the Netherlands and Flanders; the Frisian language; Afrikaans as a sister language.
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LBU022B05 |
various lecturers |
The lecture series on Dutch Culture and Society is a course aiming not only at foreign students, but also at visiting faculty members or employees of international business companies. In fact, every non-Dutch visitor to Groningen interested in any aspect of Dutch society will find something of his or her interest in this series. It is possible to extend the course by taking a written exam to the value of 5 ECTS credits. |
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LBU023B05 |
Dr. S. van der Poel |
In this course we will learn about Dutch political history in general, including the pecularities of the Dutch political party system ('pillarization'),the origins and nature of political parties, the history and impact of the Second World War and the onset of multicultural society. |
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LBU032B05
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Diverse docenten
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Dit vak is specifiek gericht op studenten die in het buitenland Nederlands studeren (BA of MA) en een semester of een jaar in Groningen doorbrengen als uitwisselingsstudent.
Het vak kan worden afgerond met een tentamen en levert dan 5 ECTS op. Het tentamen is niet verplicht. Het doel van het vak is het overbrengen van kennis over verschillende aspecten van de Nederlandse cultuur in brede zin. Hierbij wordt een verband gelegd tussen lokaal (de noordelijke regio), nationaal (Nederland) en internationaal (Europa, de wereld). Onderwerpen die behandeld worden zijn de Nederlandse Gouden Eeuw; Nederlandse archeologie; gezondheidscommunicatie in Nederland; sociaal-economische geschiedenis; poëzie; de positie van de Nederlandse vrouw; Nederlandse popmuziek; het Nederlandse landschap;laaggeletterdheid. Rond half november wordt er een excursie georganiseerd naar een museum in of dichtbij Groningen. |
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LBU035B05
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Dr. E. Runia
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"Dutch identity does not exist'. When the later Queen Máxima expressed this statement at the occasion of the public presentation of an advice on national history education to the government, she caused great upheaval. The advice was titled: National Identity and Multiple Pasts. What she meant to say was that based on her own experience as a migrant, Dutch society had always been multicultural and was so now. Of course this was a political statement: multiculturalism was part of Dutch history, so we'll have to accept that. Immediately her statement was vehemently contradicted by Geert Wilders, leader of the anti-Islam party PVV, who called it in his confrontational style 'fuzzy political correctness', and by spokesmen of the liberal and christian-democrat parties, who pointed to the Dutch Royal House and Dutch symbols such as the use of the color orange at soccer international games.
In this class we will examine different aspects of Dutch national identity in a more long term historical perspective, and with a keen eye for difference: gender, ethnicity, 'race', class, and - fundamental for Dutch history - religion. We will discuss the anxieties about national identity in the nineteenth-century, that led to the foundation of the Rijksmuseum as a 'shrine of Dutch artistic values', the Dutch scenes of farmer and fishermen and women by the world famous painter Jozef Israëls and the parallel construction of sites of Dutchnes like the Hindeloopen chamber, Volendam and Marken, or the uses of folklore in political contexts, such as the women's suffrage movement. What is collective identity, how is it constructed, negotiated and denied? Is this national identity identifiable at all? What are 'lieux de mémoire' or sites of memory and what is their role in constructing identity? What is the role of museums in constructing national identity and how do they do that? In the first part we will discuss various aspects of (Dutch) national identity and collective memory on the basis of scholarly texts. In the second part students will do a project that begins with the exploration of a museum and results in a paper on an aspect of Dutch identity and difference related to the museum. |
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LBU037B05
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Prof. T. Meder
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Folktales are supposed to be very old tales transmitted through oral tradition. During the transmission the stories tend to vary; the tales get adjusted to time, place, narrator, audience, as well as the political and social situation. In many respects, studying folktyales like fairy tales, legends, jokes, riddles etc. can tell us a lot about folk life, folk fantasy, their fears and dreams, folk belief and mentality. Throughout history folktales are the barometers of moods in society. However, oral tradition appears to be influenced by written tradition as well. Written tradition allowed us to remember a lot of folktales, so we could keep retelling them. This course is about everything you want to know about folktales: how old are they? Where do they come from? What do they mean? How and why do they change? And how do they need to be interpreted? The focus will be on the Netherlands, but in an international context. |
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LBU038B10
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Academic English for International Students (Faculty of Arts students only)
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A.C. Vaatstra
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Through instructions, assignments, and feedback students work on their English proficiency. The course focusses on writing, reading, and speaking English in academic contexts. Students work on other aspects which are often problematic for international students such as grammar, collocations, and vocabulary through guided self-study. Another important aspect is the development of academic skills, such as critical thinking, argumentation, source use and integration, and research.
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LBU045B05
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Dr. N.S. Baadj
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The Netherlands was one of the most important sites of global encounter and exchange in seventeenth-century Europe. It was also a major center of artistic production and innovation. This course explores connections between Dutch art of the Golden Age and the Netherlands’ role as an international hub of cultural, commercial, and scientific activity. Topics to be considered include: the changing art market and its impact on new audiences and novel types of art; the dissemination of images and ideas through print culture; the representation of global encounters; the formation and representation of new national, civic, political, religious, and social identities; and artistic exchanges between the Netherlands and other cultures. Readings and discussions will examine the art of well-known masters such as Rembrandt, Hals, and Vermeer, as well as less familiar but equally fascinating works by their contemporaries. Although paintings and prints will be a main focus, we will consider the larger context of Dutch material and visual culture and also investigate textiles, sculpture, metalwork, furniture, jewelry, ceramics, and embellished natural specimens.
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LBU046B05
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Dr. W. Vuijk
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This course is concerned with various interrelated aspects of Dutch history, culture, and communication. For ages on end, the Netherlands have been a multiform society, with different cultural, ethnic, and religious groups. Moreover, as a sea-faring trading nation, the Netherlands have of old been in contact with other nations and peoples, hence strongly internationally-oriented. These factors, among other things, are behind what can be construed as "typically Dutch." |
| Last modified: | 05 December 2023 3.01 p.m. |