Bibliography

The Bibliography ‘Dutch studies on South Asia, Tibet and classical Southeast Asia’ is available online.

Since the early 17th century Dutchmen went to the East. They settled for some time in South or Southeast Asia, and since the 18th century also travelled in Tibet, though in fewer numbers. Throughout the centuries the objectives for undertaking such a journey changed. In the 17th and 18th centuries they were mainly merchants and missionaries or ministers who sailed eastwards with the Dutch East India Company. Although their initial reasons might be obvious, in their reports, which were presented as journals and eyewitness accounts, we also find traveller’s first efforts to understand cultures and languages of the visited countries. In the same period, more Dutch universities were established and research gradually extended to beyond European borders. At first, the study of Sanskrit remained secondary to Oriental languages in general, Indo-Germanic linguistics, classical studies or Dutch studies. After establishment of the first Sanskrit chair in Leiden in 1865, the study of South Asian languages and cultures got a solid foundation.

The website ‘Dutch studies on South Asia, Tibet and classical Southeast Asia’ gives an overview of Dutch scholarly activities in the field of South Asia, Tibet and classical Southeast Asia from the early 17th century up to the present. In alphabetical order it presents the authors and their works, which were written mostly, but not exclusively, within an academic context.

The basis for this bibliography was laid in 1985 by Drs Hanneke ‘t Hart., And Drs. Marianne Oort, which were both related to the library of the Institute Kern at the time. In 2011 Dory Heilijgers, former head of this library, got the idea to complete the bibliography and publish it online.

Initially this project was funded by the ‘Sichting J. Gonda Fonds’, housed at the Royal Dutch Academy of Sciences (KNAW) Amsterdam. The design and development of the website and its maintenance are subsidized by the ‘Dr. the Cock-Foundation’, housed at the VVIK and also by the ‘Stichting J. Gonda Fonds’.