THE HAGUE - Leiden University will begin establishing a new Knowledge Centre for Kingdom Relations at its Campus The Hague starting in September 2026, with the aim of strengthening research, education, and public debate concerning relations within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
According to the university, the centre will bring together researchers from both the Caribbean and European parts of the Kingdom and focus primarily on political, administrative, and governance-related issues. Topics expected to receive attention include socio-economic development, climate change, migration, security, and the division of responsibilities within the Kingdom structure.
The initiative is being led by Wouter Veenendaal, holder of the Special Chair in Kingdom Relations, together with communications and network advisor Tanja Fraai. An education and research officer is also expected to be recruited in the coming weeks.
Leiden University said the centre is intended to consolidate knowledge currently spread across different institutions and islands, while also creating opportunities for greater cooperation between universities, researchers, and policymakers throughout the Kingdom.
The University of Aruba and The Hague University of Applied Sciences are among the institutions expected to collaborate with the new centre. According to Leiden University, the project will become part of the Faculty of Social Sciences at Campus The Hague.
