# Big Histories in Amsterdam
**Source**: https://www.uva.nl/en/programmes/open-programmes-iis/big-histories-in-amsterdam/big-histories-in-amsterdam.html?origin=8P%2Bydhc4QWqguxxA7xCpKg
**Parent**: https://www.uva.nl/en/education/open-programmes/open-programmes.html
How did the histories of the cosmos, Earth, life and human societies jointly shape our world? More specifically: how have they affected the city around you? This special edition of the big history course, that will be organised as part of the celebration of the 750th birthday of Amsterdam, will help you address these questions.
During the course, you will go on a journey from the big bang until today. You will also engage in a project exploring how processes such as the origin of the universe, the lives of stars and planets, the emergence and evolution of life—including our own species—and the development of agriculture, states, and globalisation have shaped Amsterdam’s cityscape, biodiversity, and social structure.
The results of that exploration will be bundled in the form of a digital tour that will be published as part of the Amsterdam750 Stories Project.
Join the course to foster your creativity, interdisciplinary skills, and long-term thinking—and discover how you and the city around you are part of a bigger story!
### **Coordinator**
Dr. Esther Quaedackers
### **Timetable**
You can find the timetable on [Datanose](https://datanose.nl/#course[138348]).
### **Entry requirements**
Open to second-year and third-year UvA Bachelor's students and other interested parties, such as contract students or students from other Dutch higher education institutions. Master's students can only participate if there are still spots available.
### **Registration**
UvA Bachelor's students can register from **10 to 16 June 2025** in [the GLASS registration rounds](https://glass.uva.nl/). Master’s students can send a short motivation to [keuzeonderwijs-iis@uva.nl](mailto:keuzeonderwijs-iis@uva.nl "mailto:keuzeonderwijs-iis@uva.nl").
‘Bijvak’ students and contract students can register **from 10 June 2025**until **two weeks prior to the start of the course**, by completing the [online registration form](https://eur04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdatanose.nl%2F%23enrolnr(IIS)&data=05%7C01%7Cr.j.vervelde%40uva.nl%7Ca08ff8f053304950c07c08db41a72a12%7Ca0f1cacd618c4403b94576fb3d6874e5%7C0%7C0%7C638175958434172376%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=VBtfGHL2iNCMh3b2OUaYlEZdz46XPBJORRoimsB3UHE%3D&reserved=0).
If you have any trouble while registering, please contact us at [keuzeonderwijs-iis@uva.nl](mailto:Keuzeonderwijs-iis@uva.nl).
*Please note: as a contract student you can choose to participate either **including** or **excluding**assessment. If you choose the latter, you only have access to the seven lectures of the course. If you also wish to attend the seminars, please choose 'including assessment'*.
### **Costs**
Prices can be found on [the IIS website](https://iis.uva.nl/onderwijsaanbod/iis-keuzevakken/iis-keuzevakken.html#Kosten).
### **SDGs in education**
The IIS strives to reflect current societal issues and challenges in our elective courses, honours modules and degree programmes and attempts to integrate the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in this course. For more information about these goals, [please visit the SDGs website.](https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/)
[Visit the Course Catalogue](https://studiegids.uva.nl/xmlpages/page/2025-2026/zoek-vak/vak/130371)
Facts & Figures
Mode
: Open UvA Course
Credits
: 6 ECTS,
Language of instruction
: English
Starts in
: September