New GLOBALISE events at the start of the 2025-2026 academic year
The IISG and the Huygens Institute will soon be organizing a number of workshops, webinars, and a conference for the GLOBALISE project, focusing on the possibilities of digitally unlocking archival material, particularly from the VOC era, and making it accessible to the general public.
Imagine a filing cabinet so long it would take you hours to walk from one end to the other. Rows upon rows of shelves are packed with heavy file folders, as thick as full boxes of printer paper. How would you find the information you need? If only it were as simple as ‘just googling’ or hitting Ctrl+F.
The Dutch East India Company (VOC) archives are exactly like this: stretching for kilometres, filled with files as thick as full printer paper boxes. The GLOBALISE project of the Huygens and IISH is unlocking millions of documents from the seventeenth and eighteenth-century archive known as Overgekomen Brieven en Papieren (Received Letters and Papers) through a digital infrastructure that makes them easy to search. The process involves converting handwritten texts into readable digital form, and linking names of people, places, events and dates to an English-language digital encyclopaedia.
Researchers worldwide can access, search and use this data through a user-friendly website for which no Dutch language skills are required.
The documents contain more than just trade information. They are packed with observations and stories about societies in Asian regions where the VOC operated. This makes GLOBALISE a vital resource for historians in Asia.
Events
Three events will take place in September as part of the GLOBALISE project.
Thursday 4 September, 13:30–16:00 (CEST)
GLOBALISE Datasprint
This datasprint will focus on the structure of lists and tables within VOC archives. Its goal is to create a ‘ground truth’ — reliable data that can be used to train and assess automated recognition tools.
Who is it for?
Those working with historical data or interested in digitising complex documents.
Registration via Eventbrite.
Thursday 11 September, 15:20–16:30 (CEST)
GLOBALISE Workshop at the ENIUGH conference, Sweden
This workshop will present the GLOBALISE project in the broader context of world history and digital methodologies, discussing how VOC archives can contribute to global history research.
Who is it for?
Participants registered for the ENIUGH conference (European Network in Universal and Global History) in Växjö, Sweden.
Tuesday 30 September, 13:30–16:00 (CEST)
GLOBALISE Webinar
The webinar will explore digital methods historians can employ to craft new types of histories, based on large volumes of structured data from VOC archives.
Who is it for?
Anyone interested in digital historiography, from researchers to students.
Registration via Eventbrite.
4–6 March 2026
GLOBALISE Conference
An international conference showcasing the findings of the GLOBALISE project alongside related digital and historical topics.
Who is it for?
Researchers, data scientists, historians and other interested parties. A call for papers will be announced soon.
