The fund is especially for humanities PhD students and researchers who are walking their own path. We at Leiden University Fund are extremely grateful for this fund.

Keen on the arts

Van Vugt studied geology in Leiden, a time that was important to his development and filled his life with colour and freedom. Every year in the summer holiday,  the students would spend a few months in the Cantabrian Mountains in north-western Spain studying and mapping the layers of the earth and mountain structures. The contact with the local people and the country awakened Van Vugt’s love for the Spanish language, art and culture. Later, as a geophysicist, he worked in London and other locations around the world. He always enjoyed his work, was curious about new career and cultural challenges and passed his knowledge on to young people.

Later, after he retired, Van Vugt started a second degree: Art History. He enjoyed studying in Leiden again and at the same time did the ‘Camino de Santiago’ pilgrim walk from the Netherlands to Spain. This pilgrimage also has a lot to offer in terms of art history. As ‘hospitalero’ he was an active host for other pilgrims and enjoyed listening to their stories. His wife, who was already a guide at various art museums, shared his interests and also decided to study Art History in Leiden. She even did an internship at the Prado in Madrid.

Grants for humanities research

Going with the flow and embracing freedom was Van Vugt’s forte. Now it’s time to encourage young researchers in the couple’s beloved field – art history – to push their boundaries and gain new experiences. The Camino Laurent van Vugt Fund provides grants for academic or PhD research in the humanities, preferably with a focus on the interdisciplinary relationship with history, cultures and religions, and where possible in relation to the Spanish-speaking world. A broad field full of opportunities for enthusiastic researchers.
 

The Camino Laurent van Vugt Fund wishes you every success on your way.