The European Working Conference on Collections from Colonial Contexts
Many museums and institutions across Europe are custodians of objects and collections originating from colonial contexts. As professionals managing these collections, and recognizing our shared responsibility in addressing historical injustices, how can we best fulfill this role? What can we learn from each other’s experiences?
The Consortium Colonial Collections in the Netherlands warmly invites museum and collection professionals across Europe to participate in The European Working Conference on Collections from Colonial Contexts.
When en where?
Tuesday 23 – Thursday 25 September 2025
Locations: Amersfoort and Leiden, The Netherlands
Why attend?
This three-day conference is a unique opportunity for museum professionals and collection managers working with colonial collections to connect, share experiences, and exchange practical knowledge. The event aims to foster ongoing dialogue and collaboration, helping build a sustainable network of professionals committed to transparent, responsible stewardship.
Who should apply?
This conference welcomes professionals from European museums and collection institutions, including curators, registrars, conservators, collection managers, and depot staff — anyone involved in managing collections from colonial contexts.
Conference Themes
We will explore four key topics:
- Shaping Collaboration: Building meaningful partnerships with communities of origin and diaspora.
- Becoming Transparent, Doing Our Research: Sharing approaches to provenance research and data transparency.
- Methods for Return, Procedures and Logistics: Navigating restitution requests and ethical returns.
- Caring for Objects: Rethinking preservation approaches for returned objects.
Practical Information
- 23 September: Sessions at the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands, Amersfoort
- 24 September: Sessions at the Wereldmuseum, Leiden
- 25 September: Optional site visits to renowned museums and institutions (registration required)
Participation is free of charge. Attendees are responsible for their own travel arrangements. Bus transport will be provided between locations outside Leiden. We recommend staying in Leiden during the conference. Hotel options will be shared soon.
Share your work!
We encourage submissions of case studies for poster presentations on any of the four themes. This is a great chance to showcase your projects in an informal setting. Submit a short abstract when you register.
How to join
Interested? Please register by August 1 2025 through our online form below this page. Due to limited capacity, registrations do not guarantee a spot. We will select participants based on diversity of roles, institutions, and countries, and on what you hope to gain and contribute to the conference. For questions, contact us at info@colonialcollections.nl. We look forward to welcoming you in the Netherlands!