In the second semester of the academic year 2025-2026 the KITLV / Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies organizes, for the 39th time, the interuniversitary course Introduction to Caribbean Studies. The course is online and open to students and anyone else interested in the study of the past, present and future of the Caribbean. The course will be in English.

The Caribbean has a turbulent, and often disconcerting history, a dynamic culture, and challenging economic and political futures. It is an extraordinarily multifaceted area with its many languages, population groups, and nations. Geopolitics, climate change, migration, tourism and culture will be discussed by experts in the field of Caribbean Studies.

Six sessions. Every other Wednesday from March 4, 2026 to May 13, 2026.

Leiden, 15:00 PM – 17:00 PM
Paramaribo, 11:00 AM – 13:00 PM
Havana / New York, 09:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Online.

Because of the 175th anniversary of KITLV, the course is offered free of charge! Please note that registration is mandatory. For Dutch students there will be an opportunity to obtain student credits based on participation and a test at the end of the course.

4 March 2026 | Caribbean history I: The Pre-Columbian period and early colonization

18 March 2026 | Caribbean history II: From slavery to In(ter)dependence

1 April 2026 | Climate change in the Caribbean: between hurricanes and oil discoveries

15 April 2026 | Tourism, migration and security

29 April 2026 | Caribbean literature today

13 May 2026 | Caribbean futures and the future of Caribbean studies