Asser Institute

T.M.C. Asser Instituut

The T.M.C. Asser Instituut is a foundation (registered on 17 February 1994 with the Chamber of Commerce Haaglanden, The Netherlands, under file number 41158427) with the purpose of performing and maintaining scientific research and education in the areas of international and European law. It is a non-profit organisation, primarily funded by the Dutch Ministry for Education, Culture and Science and administered through the University of Amsterdam. 

Located in the ‘international zone’ of The Hague – the City of Justice, Peace and Security, the Institute is a unique clustering of knowledge and experience in scholarly research, education and training, knowledge management and dissemination, publishing and academic community organising.

The Institute’s international community of scholars is engaged in research, postgraduate training and dissemination of knowledge in furtherance of the purposes and principles of international law. This inter-university Institute cooperates closely with and supports the Dutch universities’ activities in the relevant disciplines and is in turn vastly networked to universities and institutions, governments and NGOs on a global level.

The academic fields covered by the Institute are: 

• Public International Law, with a focus on International Humanitarian Law and International Criminal Law
• Private International Law (including International Commercial Arbitration)
• Law of the European Union 
• International and European Sports Law

Partner universities are: Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam University, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Tilburg University, Maastricht University, Leiden University, Utrecht University, Radboud University Nijmegen, University of Groningen, University of Twente.

Asser’s strength is recognised by a diverse group (international legal institutions, researchers in international universities, publishers, ministries, Nederlandse Orde van Advocaten, European Commission, international universities) as a prestigious, high quality, flexible and dynamic entity – a mandated body and proactive centre of expertise in (niches of ) international law.