Dr. Albert van der Zeijden Thesis Prize

Focus of the thesis

The thesis must focus on (some form of) intangible heritage. Intangible heritage touches on many different areas, from tourism to policy, diversity, sustainability, and more. A key principle is always that the communities, groups, and individuals who keep the intangible heritage alive are central and involved in the research (or informed about it). The Knowledge Centre defines intangible heritage as established in the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003):

Cultural expressions experienced by heritage communities as heritage, providing them with a sense of identity and continuity. This intangible heritage is continually reshaped in response to societal changes and in interaction with the social environment, and passed down from generation to generation.

UNESCO has identified five domains or categories of intangible heritage:

• Festivities, rituals and social practices
• Speaking, singing and telling
• Performing arts
• Traditional craftsmanship / crafts
• Knowledge and practices surrounding nature and the universe

Here you will find an overview of all intangible heritage registered with KIEN.

Terms and conditions

• The thesis has been assessed with at least an 8 (or a 15 in Flanders) + proof
• Bachelor's and master's theses on intangible heritage that were written and assessed by a university or university of applied sciences in the Kingdom of the Netherlands or Flanders between September 1, 2023 and August 31, 2025
• Languages: Dutch, English, Papiamento, Frisian.
• Demonstrably voluntary, prior and informed consent of the relevant heritage community(ies)
• Summary of the thesis in max. two A4 pages
  
  

Assessment criteria

• Relevance for the practice of (safeguarding) intangible heritage
• Relevance to science
• Research methods (preferably participatory research – involvement of heritage practitioners in the research)
• Clarity/readability
• Originality
• Social value/current value
  
  

Assessment committee

• Prof. Rose Mary Allen – University of Curaçao
• Jorijn Neyrinck – Intangible Heritage Workshop (Belgium)
• Jules Rijssen - Imagine IC
• Dr. Renée Vulto - Utrecht University
• Dr. Adrienne Zuiderweg - Dutch East Indies Heritage Foundation
• Dr. Mark Schep - Knowledge Centre for Intangible Heritage Netherlands – Reinwardt Academy (chair)

Award ceremony and prize

The winner of the Dr. Albert van der Zeijden Thesis Prize receives:

• 1000 euros in prize money
• Unique IP Trophy, made by craftsman
• Presentation of research at the award ceremony in early 2026. Part of the Heritage Lecture programme of Utrecht University
• Publication on the website of the Dutch Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage
  
  

Practical requirements

• The thesis must be sent in a digital version to scriptieprijs@immaterieelerfgoed.nl
• The deadline for submission is October 1, 2025
• The contact details (name, email address and telephone number) of the student and the assessor/lecturer must be clearly stated on the thesis.

Dr. Albert van der Zeijden

Albert van der Zeijden (1957-2021) worked as a historian in the field of intangible heritage and folk culture for almost 35 years. In recent years, he headed the Knowledge Development team at the Dutch Centre for Intangible Heritage, formerly known as the Netherlands Centre for Folk Culture (NCV), and from 2012, after the ratification of the 2003 UNESCO Convention, as the Netherlands Centre for Folk Culture and Intangible Heritage (VIE). Under his leadership, Albert van der Zeijden developed the Knowledge Agenda 2017-2020, focusing on superdiversity, sustainable tourism, and intangible heritage.

Albert van der Zeijden was a Research Fellow in Heritage Studies at Utrecht University, where he supervised students' theses, among other things. He was also active internationally, for example, within the ICH-NGO Forum where he coordinated the Research Working Group. Furthermore, Albert van der Zeijden was an editorial member of the Flemish-Dutch journal Volkskunde.

In 2002, Albert van der Zeijden received his doctorate from the University of Amsterdam with a dissertation on Catholic identity and historical consciousness. W.J.F. Nuyens (1823-1894) and his 'national' historiography (Hilversum 2002). Catholicism was one of his great passions, something he enjoyed writing and discussing.