I have given over 80 public lectures on a variety of topics, including Old English, the history of the English language, Tolkien’s The Hobbit, movie adaptations of Beowulf, King Arthur, Game of Thrones, The Norman Conquest and Dr Who in early medieval England. These lectures were presented for:

  • DRONGO Language Festival
  • BPS-conferentie voor hoogbegaafde leerlingen
  • LUX bioscoop, Nijmegen
  • Zeeuws Museum, Middelburg
  • Soroptimist International Club, Naaldwijk- Westland
  • Sint-Maartenscollege, Voorhout
  • Rijnlands Lyceum, Oegstgeest
  • Christelijk College Groevenbeek, Ermelo
  • Metis Montessori Lyceum, Amsterdam
  • G.S.G. Guido de Brès, Amersfoort
  • Jan van Egmond Lyceum, Purmerend
  • Stedelijk Gymnasium, Schiedam
  • Het Lyceum Vos, Vlaardingen
  • Edith Stein College, Den Haag
  • StudentenKoepel voor Levensbeschouwelijke Organisaties (SKLO), Groningen
  • Great Anglo-Saxon Gobblers (Student society English language and culture, Radboud University Nijmegen)
  • A.S.V. Prometheus (Student association, Leiden)
  • V.S.L. Catena (Student association, Leiden)
  • V.G.S.L. Franciscus Gomarus (Student association, Leiden)
  • Albion Association (Student society English language and culture, Leiden University)
  • H.S.V.L. (Student society History, Leiden University)
  • M.S.V.L. Floris V (Student society Medieval Studies, Leiden University)
  • N.N.P. (Student society Dutch Studies, Leiden University)
  • S!MP (Student society German Studies, Leiden University)
  • T.W.I.S.T. (Student society Linguistics, Leiden University)
  • Leyden Inklings (Student reading group of medieval English, Leiden University)
  • Leiden University

My lectures are part of Kennis op Straat, an online platform developed by De Jonge Akademie (KNAW / Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences) and Leiden University’s Gastlessen initiative.

Lectures for secondary schools, museums and public conferences

  1. ‘Travelling through Time with Words: A Lexical History of the English Language’, for Sint-Maartenscollege, Voorhout (29-01-2020)
  2. ‘Middeleeuwse geneeskunde en de levenscyclus: Een remedie tegen ouderdom uit middeleeuws Engeland’, Soroptimist International Club, Naaldwijk- Westland (05-06-2019)
  3. ‘Middenaarde bestaat! Middeleeuwse sporen in Tolkiens fictie’, for Tolkien: Midden-Aarde bestaat: Film & gesprek over de wetenschap achter ‘The Lord of the Rings’, Bioscoop LUX, Nijmegen (04-06-2019)
  4. ‘Travelling through Time with Words: A Lexical History of the English Language’, for Rijnlands Lyceum, Oegstgeest (29-05-2019)
  5. ‘Not today: Game of Thrones, medievalism and the Middle Ages’, for Game of Thrones: History and Politics in the World of Westeros, organized by StudentenKoepel voor Levensbeschouwelijke Organisaties (SKLO), Groningen (17-04-2019)
  6. ‘Reizen door de tijd met woorden: Een lexicale geschiedenis van de Engelse taal’, for Christelijk College Groevenbeek, Ermelo (17-04-2019)
  7. ‘From Beowulf to Bilbo: Tracing the Medieval in Tolkien’s Middle-Earth’, for Metis Montessori Lyceum, Amsterdam (27-03-2019)
  8. ‘Introduction to Old English’, for Edith Stein College, Den Haag (10-04-2018)
  9. ‘Travelling through Time with Words: A Lexical History of the English Language’, for G.S.G. Guido de Brès, Amersfoort (10-03-2017)
  10. ‘From Beowulf to Bilbo: Tracing the Medieval in Tolkien’s Middle-Earth’, for Jan van Egmond Lyceum, Purmerend (27-10-2016)
  11. ‘Pudenda te paard en een penis op pootjes: De perverse Middeleeuwen in woord en beeld’, for Zeeuws Museum, Middelburg (16-04-2016)
  12. ‘From Beowulf to Bilbo: Tracing the Medieval in Tolkien’s Middle-Earth’, for Jan van Egmond Lyceum, Purmerend (13-11-2015)
  13. ‘20PK: From geomorfrod to geezer: Old English Words for ‘Old’’, for DRONGO Language Festival, Utrecht (30-09-2015)
  14. ‘Dwergen, draken en dwaze hobbits: Tolkiens Middelaarde en haar middeleeuwse wortels’, for BPS-conferentie voor hoogbegaafde leerlingen, Utrecht (06-11-2015).
  15. ‘Dwergen, draken en dwaze hobbits: Tolkiens Middelaarde en haar middeleeuwse wortels’, for Stedelijk Gymnasium, Schiedam (23-04-2015).
  16. ‘Van Beowulf tot Bilbo: Oudengelse sporen in Tolkiens The Hobbit’, for BPS-conferentie voor hoogbegaafde leerlingen, Utrecht (13-01-2015).
  17. ‘Old English: Tolkien, Riddles and Runes’, for Het Lyceum Vos, Vlaardingen (15-03-2013)
  18. ‘Introduction to Old English’, for Het Lyceum Vos, Vlaardingen (15-03-2013)

Lectures for student associations

  1. ‘Draken, dwergen en dwaze hobbits: Tolkiens Middenaarde en haar middeleeuwse wortels’, for V.G.S.L. Franciscus Gomarus (30-09-2021)
  2. ‘Old English Words and Anglo-Saxon Worldviews: A Cultural Linguistic Approach to Early Medieval English Vocabulary’, for T.W.I.S.T., Leiden (22-04-2021)
  3. ‘Draken, dwergen en dwaze hobbits: Tolkiens Middenaarde en haar middeleeuwse wortels’, for A.S.V. Prometheus (12-08-2020)
  4. ‘Skinny Devils, Marginal Cats and Viking Ransoms. Insular Manuscript Art from the Early Middle Ages’, for M. S. V. L. Floris V, Leiden (30-10-2019)
  5. ‘Draken, dwergen en dwaze hobbits: Tolkiens Middenaarde en haar middeleeuwse wortels’, for A.S.V. Prometheus (13-08-2019)
  6. ‘Not today: Game of Thrones, medievalism and the Middle Ages’, for M. S. V. L. Floris V, Leiden (15-04-2019)
  7. ‘Middeleeuwse zwijnenfeitjes ter lering ende vermaak’, M.S.V.L. Floris V, Leiden (29-09-2018)
  8. ‘writ þus oððe bet oððe þine hyde forlet [write like this or pay or lose your skin]: Scenes from the Anglo-Saxon Classroom’, Albion Association, Leiden (03-09-2018)
  9. ‘“Not Today”: The World of Game of Thrones, the Middle Ages and Medievalism’ , for M.S.V.L. Floris V and Albion Association, Leiden (18-10-2017)
  10. ‘From Beowulf to Bilbo: Traces of the Medieval in Middle-Earth’, for S.L.V. Catena, Leiden (09-05-2017)
  11. ‘Old English Words and Anglo-Saxon Worldviews: A Cultural Linguistic Approach to Early Medieval English Vocabulary’, for T.W.I.S.T., Leiden (03-04-2017)
  12. ‘From Beowulf to Bilbo: Tracing the Medieval in Tolkien’s Middle-Earth’, for H.S.V.L. and Albion Association, Leiden (30-11-2016)
  13. ‘Welcome to the Land of the Penis Tree: The Obscene Middle Ages in Words and Images’, for Albion Association, Leiden (12-04-2016)
  14. ‘The Proverbs of Alfred and the Early English Proverb Tradition’, for Leyden Inklings, Leiden (30-10-2015)
  15. ‘Where is all that laughing and that song? An Introduction to Middle English Lyrics’, for Leyden Inklings, Leiden (26-09-2014)
  16. ‘Dwergen, draken en dwaze hobbits: Tolkiens Middelaarde en haar middeleeuwse wortels’, for A.S.V. Prometheus, Leiden (12-08-2014).
  17. ‘Anglo-Saxon Magic & Old English Curses’, for Leyden Inklings, Leiden (25-04-2014)
  18. ‘Van Beowulf tot Bilbo: Oudengelse sporen in Tolkiens The Hobbit’, for S.L.V. Catena, Leiden (02-04-2014).
  19. ‘“There’s More to this Hobbit than Meets the Eye”’, for Albion Association, Leiden (04-12-2013).
  20. ‘Where is all that laughing and that song? Middle English Lyrics’, for Leyden Inklings, Leiden (27-09-2013)
  21. ‘Philology: Why Words are Worth Loving’, for Albion Association, Leiden (13-08-2013).
  22. ‘Hare Hilderincas: Elderly Heroes in Anglo-Saxon Culture’, for Albion Association, Leiden (01-05-2013).
  23. ‘Oudengels’, for Catena Science Café, S.L. Catena, Leiden (26-03-2013).
  24. ‘From Beowulf to Baggins: Traces of Old English Language and Culture in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit’, for Great Anglo-Saxon Gobblers, Nijmegen (12-12-2012).
  25. ‘The Ox’s Bones: The Anglo-Saxon Flavour of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit’, for A.S.V. Prometheus, Leiden (15-08-2012)
  26. ‘Old English Words and Anglo-Saxon Worldviews. Or: Philology and Why Words Are Worth Loving’, for Albion Association, Leiden (14-08-2012).
  27. ‘Anglo-Saxon Anecdotes and Great Anglo-Saxon Gossip. A Brief History of Anglo-Saxon England with All the Boring Bits Left out’, for Great Anglo-Saxon Gobblers, Nijmegen (26-05-2011).
  28. ‘Grendels, Grendels, Grendels. The Monsters in Beowulf Movies’, for Great Anglo-Saxon Gobblers, Nijmegen (10-06-2010).
  29. ‘Visualising Grendel and His Mother. The Monsters in Movie Adaptations of Beowulf’, for Albion Association, Leiden (20-04-2009).
  30. ‘The Elderly in Beowulf and Their Anglo-Saxon Context’, for Albion Association, Leiden (08-12-2008).

Lectures for student conferences

  1. ‘Unlikely Bedfellows? Saints and Swine in Medieval Hagiography’, for Holy Heroes: A Symposium on Saints’ Lives in Early Medieval England, graduate student symposium, Leiden University (03-06-2019)
  2. ‘Oudengels is Nederlands en de Beowulf is van ons! Ideeën over Oudengels in negentiende-eeuws Nederland’, for Germaanse Talen Symposium, organised by Albion Association, N.N.P. and S!MP (21-02-2019)
  3. ‘Ealde ethelweardas: Beowulf as a Mirror for Elderly Kings’, for Perspectives on Beowulf: Of Men, Monsters and Other Musings, graduate student symposium, Leiden University (25-01-2019)
  4. ‘”I fare as dooth an open-ers”: Provocation, proverbs and profanity in Chaucer’s Miller’s Tale and Reeve’s Tale’, for Chaucer Symposium, organised by M.S.V.L. Floris V and Albion Association, Leiden (14-06-2018)
  5. ‘Boared at King Arthur’s Court: The Ambivalent Boar in Arthurian Literature’, for Graduate Symposium on Arthurian Literature, organized by students of MasterLanguage, Leiden (01-06-2018)

Lectures for various events at Leiden University

  1. ‘Online Scriptiebegeleiding’, for Leiden Teachers Academy, Leiden University (27-01-2020)
  2. ‘The Wonders of Philology: Travelling through Time with Words’, for Pre-Union English Department, Leiden University (13-06-2019).
  3. ‘Scholarly Collaboration Before the Digital Age: Pieter Jacob Cosijn, Johannes Franck and the First Etymological Dictionary of the Dutch Language’, for Launch Event Humanities Faculty Research Traineeship Programme, Leiden University (01-02-2019).
  4. ‘The Wonders of Philology: Travelling through Time with Words’, for Pre-Union English Department, Leiden University (06-06-2018).
  5. ‘Introduction to Medieval Studies and Early Modern Studies in Leiden’, for Kick-off Event ‘Study the Middle Ages and the Early Modern Period in Leiden!’ (30-05-2018)
  6. ‘The Leiden University Old English ColloQuest: A Digital Teaching Edition with Adaptive Glosses’, for ExpertiseCentrum Online Learning (ECOLe), Leiden University (19-05-2018) [with Amos van Baalen, Jennifer Jansen and Krista Murchison]
  7. ‘Old English Words and Anglo-Saxon Worldviews: A Cultural Linguistic Approach to Early Medieval English Vocabulary’, for 12th Summer School in Languages and Linguistics, Leiden University (11-07-2017)
  8. ‘Introduction to Medieval Studies and Early Modern Studies in Leiden’, for Launch Event Medieval Studies and Early Modern Studies, Leiden University (08-05-2017)
  9. ‘Kennisclips, hoe maak je ze en hoe zet je ze in?’, for ExpertiseCentrum Online Learning (ECOLe), Leiden University (20-10-2016)
  10. ‘Of Dwarfs, Giants and Elves: A Brief History of Old English in Leiden’, opening lecture for the English Department, Leiden University (06-09-2016)
  11. ‘Scriptie begeleiden online: het kan!’, for ExpertiseCentrum Online Learning (ECOLe), Leiden University (21-06-2016)
  12. ‘The medium is the message. Integratie van nieuwe media in het onderwijs’, for ExpertiseCentrum Online Learning (ECOLe), Leiden University (11-05-2016)
  13. ‘Pitch2Peer’, for ExpertiseCentrum Online Learning (ECOLe), Leiden University (28-01-2016)
  14. ‘From Modraniht to Magi: The Medieval in Christmas’, for The Angler Christmas Fund Raiser, Leiden University (17-12-2015)
  15. ‘From Beowulf to Bilbo: Tracing the Medieval in Tolkien’s Middle-Earth’, for Proefstuderen Leiden, Leiden University (27-11-2015)
  16. ‘Here Be Dragons: Exploring Old English Language and Literature’, for Proefstuderen Leiden, Leiden University (27-11-2015)
  17. ‘Hoe verrijk ik mijn vak met sociale media?’, for ExpertiseCentrum Online Learning (ECOLe), Leiden University (08-10-2015)
  18. ‘The Wonders of Philology: Travelling through Time with Words’, for Pre-Union English Department, Leiden University (28-05-2015)
  19. ‘A Humanities Ph.D.: Do’s, Don’ts and Dragons’, for Career Event ‘Working as a Researcher’, Student Career Service Leiden University (21-11-2014).
  20. ‘Philology & The History of the English Language. A Sneak Peek at Periods & Samples of Script’, for Pre-Union English Department, Leiden University (28-05-2014).
  21. ‘Philology & The History of the English Language. A Sneak Peek at Periods & Samples of Script’, for Pre-Union English Department, Leiden University (31-05-2013).
  22. ‘From Beowulf to Baggins: Traces of Old English Language and Culture in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit’, public lecture, Leiden University (21-12-2012).
  23. ‘From Beowulf to Bilbo: Traces of Old English in Tolkien’s The Hobbit’, for Meeloopdag XL, Leiden University (23-11-2012)
  24. ‘The Bones in the Soup: The Anglo-Saxon Flavour of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit’, for Propedeuse Ceremony English Department, Leiden University (21-09-2012)
  25. ‘Maps, Elves and Dragons! Traces of Anglo-Saxon Culture in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit’, for Last Minute Leiden, Leiden University (21-06-2012)
  26. ‘Beowulf Baggins? Traces of Old English Literature in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit’, for Open Dag Opleiding Engelse Taal en Cultuur, Leiden University (21-04-2012)
  27. ‘Linguistics and Philology. An Introduction’, for Last Minute Leiden, Leiden University (11-06-2009)

Philology film nights / Medieval movie nights

A combination of a lecture and a film for students interested in medieval England, all at Leiden University.

  1. ‘Medieval Movie Night: The Bad Reputation of Æthelred II: Unready or Undeserved?’, Leiden University (24-04-2018)
  2. ‘Medieval Movie Night: A Woman’s Place Is at Her Embroidery? Women in Early Medieval England’, Leiden University (23-03-2017)
  3. ‘Philology Film Night: Lindisfarne and Its Gospels: The Horrible History of Holy Island’, Leiden University (29-04-2015)
  4. ‘Philology Film Night: Arthur, the Once and Future Legend’, Leiden University (20-11-2013)
  5. ‘Philology Film Night: The Norman Conquest + 1066: The Battle for Middle Earth’, Leiden University (15-05-2013)
  6. ‘Philology Film Night: The Monsters in Beowulf Movies + Beowulf & Grendel’, Leiden University (24-04-2013)
  7. ‘Philology Film Night: The Various Faces of the Grendelkin in Beowulf Movies’, Leiden University (25-04-2012).
  8. ‘Philology Film Night: Laece Hwa – Doctor Who in Anglo-Saxon England’, Leiden University (22-03-2012).