Erasmus Collection Fellowship

This in-residence fellowship provides a unique opportunity for junior and senior researchers to engage in Erasmus Studies.

The Rotterdam Public Library hosts the world's largest Erasmus Collection – UNESCO Memory of the World which goes back to 1604. The Collection includes more than 3,000 early-modern editions of Erasmus' works and handwritten letters, and a vast range of modern translations, editions, articles and books related to Erasmus and his reception from the 16th century to the present. This provides a unique opportunity for junior and senior researchers to engage in Erasmus Studies in the context of (Neo-Latin) philology, theology, philosophy, typology, book history, Renaissance Studies, art history and related fields, or subjects directly related to the ideas of Erasmus in a broader sense, such as peace, education, and citizenship.

In close co-operation, the Rotterdam Public Library (RPL) and the Erasmus of Rotterdam Research Centre (ERRC) at Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) facilitate international researchers to study the world's largest Erasmus Collection. Fellows contribute to the identity of Rotterdam as a meaningful place to engage with Erasmus Studies. We invite academic and non-academic scholars from all over the world to apply for an Erasmus Collection Fellowship and engage in research related to the Collection during an extended visit to Rotterdam. We encourage all interested academics, journalists, and independent researchers to apply. The deadline for sending in the application form is 14 June 2026.

Fellows will take part in activities of both the ERRC and the public library. RPL embeds the fellowship within its Heritage Studio program, where scholars meet creative makers such as designers, artists, and photographers. In doing so, the library hopes to become a place where scholarly research and artistic creation find each other as a source of mutual inspiration. 

Various terms and conditions apply for applicants of the Erasmus Collection Fellowship:

General conditions

• The fellow is expected to conduct research that contributes to the further study of Erasmus of Rotterdam (within the scope of his or her field(s) of expertise).
• The fellow is expected to engage with and utilize the Erasmus Collection of the RPL in a relevant manner for their research.
• The fellow is expected to conduct their research at Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR), specifically at the Erasmus School of Philosophy (ESPhil), ERRC, and the RPL during the period of the Fellowship.
• The fellow is expected to partake in the activities of the ERRC during the stay.
• The fellow is expected to participate in the public library's Heritage Studio program and to disclose their research to a creative professional.

Practical Conditions

• The Fellowship takes place during a continuous period of six weeks in the period from 19th September to 30th November 2026. 
• The fellow is responsible for acquiring the correct visa and proper documentation to enable a stay in the Netherlands for the duration of the Fellowship.
• A signed invitation to take up a Fellowship will be provided when the proposed dates of the Fellowship are accepted. Applicants should indicate their preferred dates on the application form.
• Accommodation in the Rotterdam city centre is fully included during the six weeks of the Fellowship: the fellow will stay as a guest in Residence Columeta. 
• Before arrival, an online meeting with Residence Columeta is mandatory; this will be organized once the fellowship has been awarded.
• The Fellow will provide ERRC and RPL with a presentation of the research results on the completion of the Fellowship.
• The Fellow will provide EUR and RPL with a copy of any publication resulting from the Fellowship.

Applications must include:

• The filled out application form that is enclosed at the bottom of this page.
• A start and end date of the proposed research.
• A curriculum vitae and a list of publications or relevant research activities.
• A proposal for research to be carried out in the Erasmus Collection of RPL during the term of the Fellowship of a maximum of 1,000 words. The research proposal must specify how and in what way the research will make use of the Erasmus Collection of RPL, how it will further the applicant’s (academic) goals, and how it contributes to the study of Erasmus of Rotterdam.

Contact

Please send your application to tsimarakis@esphil.eur.nl with your name and ‘Erasmus Collection Fellowship’ as the subject for your e-mail, and with all requested documents such as the application form enclosed in PDF-format. All applications will be reviewed by the Erasmus Collection Fellowship Assessment Committee. The committee is composed of prof. dr. Han van Ruler, prof. dr. Ronald van Raak, and dr. John Tholen.

All questions regarding the Rotterdam Erasmus Collection and research possibilities may be conveyed to j.tholen@bibliotheek.rotterdam.nl.

The Rotterdam Public Library and Erasmus University Rotterdam offer a compensation of €2,000 to meet costs for travel and transportation.

The information set out above has been compiled with the utmost care. However, no rights may be derived from the information as it has been formulated above and neither the Erasmus University, nor the Erasmus School of Philosophy, nor the Erasmus of Rotterdam Research Centre, nor the Rotterdam Public Library are liable concerning any information that has been presented in the terms and conditions as outlined here.