Organizer Information
The fellowship program is organized by the Global Slavery History Fellowships (GSHF) coalition, a collaborative initiative formed by several major Amsterdam-based archives, museums, universities, and research institutions dedicated to the study and preservation of slavery history and colonial archives. The program is financially supported by the Insinger Foundation and coordinated through the International Institute of Social History.
The coalition brings together some of the Netherlands’ most respected cultural and historical institutions, including the Allard Pierson Museum, Amsterdam Museum, The Black Archives, National Slavery Museum, NINSEE, Rijksmuseum, Stadsarchief Amsterdam, University of Amsterdam, and Wereldmuseum.
The fellowship initiative was created in response to growing international discussions surrounding the Dutch colonial slavery past, systemic racism, historical memory, and the importance of incorporating perspectives from formerly colonized societies into archival research, curatorial practices, and public history discourse. The coalition particularly emphasizes knowledge exchange between professionals from affected regions in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America, and other formerly colonized territories connected to Dutch slavery history.
Title & Description
Call for Global Slavery History Fellowships (GSHF) 2026 – Amsterdam, Netherlands
The Global Slavery History Fellowships (GSHF) is an international fellowship program designed for emerging and mid-career historians, curators, archivists, librarians, and heritage professionals whose work focuses on slavery history, colonial archives, forced labor systems, and their ongoing social and cultural impact.
The fellowship supports research and professional exchange connected to the history of slavery in the Atlantic world, the Indian Ocean region, and the Indonesian archipelago, especially where these histories intersect with Dutch colonialism, the slave trade, and systems of forced labor.
Selected fellows will spend three months in Amsterdam working with archives, museum collections, researchers, and institutional partners within the GSHF coalition. Fellows are encouraged to develop their own research agenda while collaborating with Amsterdam-based specialists and institutions. The program aims to facilitate international dialogue and broaden perspectives on slavery history through archival engagement, curatorial exchange, public programming, and collaborative reflection.
Applicants are asked to propose a preliminary research or professional plan for their stay in Amsterdam, including their preferred host institution within the coalition and an outline of how they intend to use the fellowship period. Special attention is currently given to projects related to digital archival sources, ancestry research, and historical records connected to enslavement.
At the conclusion of each fellowship cycle, fellows participate in a public event where they present and discuss the outcomes, experiences, and insights gained during the residency.
Categories
- History
- Archival Research
- Curatorial Practice
- Museum Studies
- Cultural Heritage
- Public History
- Colonial Studies
- Slavery Studies
- Anthropology
- Humanities Research
- Digital Humanities
- Library & Information Studies
Eligibility
This is an international call open to professionals and researchers worldwide. Eligible applicants include:
- Historians
- Curators
- Archivists
- Librarians
- Researchers
- Heritage professionals
- Museum professionals
- Independent scholars
Applicants should demonstrate:
- A professional or academic background related to slavery history
- Experience or research connected to Dutch colonial slavery, forced labor, or related historical fields
- Ability to work independently
- Interest in archival collaboration and international exchange
The fellowship particularly encourages applications from professionals based in societies historically affected by colonial slavery systems in:
- Africa
- The Caribbean
- Latin America
- South Asia
- Southeast Asia
- The Indonesian archipelago
- Other formerly colonized regions
The program strongly values diversity and inclusion. Candidates from underrepresented backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
Applicants must be able to stay in Amsterdam for the full three-month fellowship period.
Program Benefits & Awards
- Free accommodation in Amsterdam
- International travel cost coverage
- Health insurance coverage
- Monthly allowance of up to €1,500
- Access to archives, museum collections, and institutional resources
- Professional networking opportunities with leading Dutch museums and research institutions
- Mentorship and collaboration opportunities with Amsterdam-based scholars and curators
- Participation in public events and knowledge exchange activities
- Research and curatorial development opportunities
Fellows will be hosted at the International Institute of Social History and linked with partner institutions within the coalition, depending on their research interests.
The organizers expect fellows’ home institutions to continue paying their salaries during the fellowship period whenever applicable.
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Updated CV including home address
- Motivation letter
- Fellowship plan/project proposal
- Reference letter
- Information regarding current visa status
- Indication of whether visa assistance is required
The motivation letter and project plan should explain:
- The applicant’s research interests
- Preferred host institution within the GSHF coalition
- Intended use of archives or collections
- Goals and expectations for the fellowship stay in Amsterdam
How to Apply?
Applications should be sent via email to the attention of Jacqueline Rutte at the International Institute of Social History.
Email: Jacqueline.rutte@bb.huc.knaw.nl
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 1 June 2026
- Fellowship Period (Fall 2026 Cohort): October – December 2026
- Spring Fellowship Cycle: April – June each year
Location
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Additional Details
The fellowship is structured as a collaborative and dialogical exchange rather than a conventional academic residency. Fellows are expected to engage actively with collections, researchers, curators, and institutional counterparts throughout their stay.
A major focus of the initiative is to strengthen perspectives from communities directly affected by the histories and legacies of slavery and colonialism. The organizers aim to foster new methodologies, archival interpretations, and public narratives that challenge historically dominant Eurocentric frameworks.
The coalition also emphasizes inclusion and equitable representation within the heritage and academic sectors. In cases of equal qualification, preference may be given to applicants who contribute to increasing diversity within the program.
Applicants interested in ancestry research, digital humanities approaches, or archival interpretation related to enslavement records may find particular relevance within the National Slavery Museum’s current areas of interest.