Welcome to

The Past-at-Play

Lab

Together we will answer

How did we play in the past?

How do we play with the past today?

Learn More

The Past-at-Play Lab is an experimental playspace in which you can join us, researchers and students from Leiden University, to play with and learn about the past and how we relate to it in the present.

We do this by playing and discussing both ancient games from the past and games from the present about the past.

Thank you all for having played with us over the last year! We had a great time hosting all your games and we will let you know what we have learned as soon as possible.

Stay playful! We have many more opportunities to play with us waiting for you.

What was the Lab?
Come Play with us Online

You can still join us for a range of online, playful events and other activities, including Live-Streamed Let’s Plays of historical games on Twitch, informative Game Bits about games that relate to the past, online boardgame tournaments and more!

Leiden is the City of Science 2022, and for that momentous occasion we are evolving!

Past at Play becomes Leiden Ludens!

Find out what that means!
Or if you’re just completely swamped with life but still want to be kept up to date
we also have a wide array of social media for you to explore!

“For many years the conviction has grown upon me that civilization arises and unfolds in and as play.”

Johan HuizingaForeword to Homo Ludens