Research into palaeoecology has been going on at the University of Amsterdam in various forms since 1966 when Thomas van der Hammen and Lex Wijmstra arrived at the University of Amsterdam.

In 2017 palaeoecology became embedded as a key research discipline within the Department of Ecosystem & Landscape Dynamics. Prior to this palaeoecology was an important component of the “Research Group of Palaeoecology & Landscape Ecology” (2006-2017), which was formed  when the groups of “Palaeo- & Actuo-ecology” and “Soil science & Landscape Ecology” were combined during the formation of the Institute of Biodiversity & Ecosystem Dynamics.

In celebration of 50 years of palynological research at the University of Amsterdam a short article documenting the history of the group was published in Palynos by Henry Hooghiemstra the former head of Palaeoecology & Landscape Ecology (Hooghiemstra, 2015). To download the text of this article click here.