Conference
Meijers' heritage: 70 years of recognition and inspiration
- Date
- Monday 24 June 2024
- Time
- Address
- Academy Building
Rapenburg 67-73
Leiden - Room
- Telders Auditorium
About the symposium
June 2024 will mark the 70th anniversary of the death of Eduard Maurits Meijers (1880-1954).
Meijers was invaluable to the Dutch legal arena and to Leiden Law School in particular. While he primarily rose to prominence for his recodification of the Dutch Civil Code, his legal legacy extends far beyond the field of private law. Meijers also made a significant contribution to legal history, legal theory, labour law, private international law and even empirical legal studies.
This symposium – which will be held the day before the anniversary of his death – will reflect on Meijers' life and shed new light on his extensive work. Six distinguished speakers will discuss his legacy from various legal disciplines and perspectives, reflecting on his influence on today’s legal system. Later this year, these contributions and input from other authors will be combined into a special publication that will be edited by the symposium organisers.
The symposium will close with a very special event. Professor Cees Maris will hand over Meijers' gown, which he wore during his Leiden University professorship, to Leiden Law School. Professor Maris, who will also speak at this symposium, has had the pleasure of wearing the gown for many years. However, he writes: ‘It’s now time for Meijers' gown to return to its place of origin and destination.’ Later this year, this unique piece of academic heritage will be given a permanent spot in the KOG Building.
Speakers
- Professor A. G. Castermans, Professor of Civil Law (Leiden University)
- Professor E. Koops, Professor of Legal History (Leiden University)
- Professor V. Mak, Professor of Civil Law (Leiden University)
- Professor C. W. Maris, Professor of Legal Philosophy and General Legal Theory (University of Amsterdam)
- Professor C. E. du Perron, Justice at the Dutch Supreme Court and Professor of Private Law (University of Amsterdam)
- Professor V. Sagaert, Professor of Private Law (KU Leuven)
This symposium will be held in Dutch and is intended for faculty staff, students and any other interested parties.
Programme
| 13.45 | Doors open |
| 14.00 | Opening Professor Matthias Haentjens |
| 14.10 | Met Meijers de boer op: empirical legal studies avant la lettre Professor Alex Geert Castermans |
| 14.35 | Meijers en de rechtspolitieke kleur van het BW Professor Vanessa Mak |
| 15.00 | Meijers en de Hoge Raad Professor Edgar du Perron |
| 15.25 |
Break |
| 15.45 | Meijers als rechtshistoricus Professor Egbert Koops |
| 16.10 | Meijers en de codificatie: een rechtsvergelijkend perspectief Professor Vincent Sagaert |
| 16.35 | Meijers, Scholten en de rechtstheorie Professor Cees Maris |
| 17.00 | Close |
| 17.15-18.15 | Reception |
