Abstract

In this study, we explored the academic acquis in the field of Islamic studies produced in the last twenty-plus years in the Netherlands. We examined Netherlands Interuniversity School for Islamic Studies to determine the most important Dutch institutions in the field of Islamic studies, their history, foundation objectives, research areas, education policies, publications, the most qualified researchers and original work in the field. NISIS, which solely covers Islam and Muslim societies in its broadest dimension, was established in 2010 as the official national research school in the Netherlands. The research school was first attended by eight universities, each represented by a board member: Erasmus University Rotterdam, Leiden University, Radboud University, Tilburg University, Amsterdam University, Groningen University, Utrecht University, and VU University Amsterdam. With the participation of Maastricht University in 2013, NISIS constitutes the first collaboration in the history of Dutch scholarship, an academic platform of all universities that has a significant contribution to the field of Islamic studies, bringing together nine Dutch universities, their faculties, Ph.D. candidates, and master’s students. NISIS provides Ph.D. candidates and master's students in the Netherlands and Belgium with a number of opportunities: seasonal schools, network days, and other educational activities. NISIS strives to strengthen its existing ties with academic institutions around the globe, focusing mainly on Indonesia, Morocco, and Turkey. NISIS managed to cross the borders of the Netherlands and has successfully partnered with KU Leuven and Ghent University from Belgium and Ruhr University Bochum from Germany. The International Institute for the Study of Islam in the Contemporary World (ISIM) and later NISIS, were founded on a fundamental principle "For the Netherlands to develop a truly balanced, multicultural society, it is essential to know the cultures and societies that contribute to it". In our research, we discussed the academic efforts before NISIS; the establishment, activities, and publications of ISIM in detail. We shed light on the establishment of NISIS, its purpose, objectives, research areas, educational program, seasonal schools, Islamic research network days, other educational activities, interdisciplinarity principle, relations with other institutions, and efforts to reach various segments of Dutch society.