An institute of formation for men

Forming men of virtue and principled leadership.

The Grotius Leadership Institute is the foundation's project for men — a community of young leaders committed to integrity, service, and the long apprenticeship of formation.

LITE · Encounters

Next LITE event → About GLI

What GLI runs

Two threads, year-round.

i. Monthly · open

Grotius LITE

An evening speaker series. Established professionals share their leadership journeys, followed by an interactive forum and an informal borrel. Open front door, no commitment.

Past LITEs & next event →

ii. Twice a year · all welcome

Grotius Encounters

Our Christmas dinner and summer barbecue — gatherings to thank the volunteers and the regulars who make a year of GLI possible. Good food, the whole community, no agenda.

Why GLI

Virtue first. The rest follows.

portrait · Hugo Grotius · Michiel Jansz. van Mierevelt

Virtue-based leadership starts with the moral character of the individual. It emphasises qualities like integrity, courage, and empathy — going beyond mere skill or strategy, and focusing on doing what is right for one's team and the broader community.

By aligning their actions with deeply held values, the men we form earn trust, foster mutual respect, and inspire others toward shared goals. It is slower work than the leadership industry promises. It is also the work that lasts.

A man cannot govern a nation if he cannot govern a city; he cannot govern a city if he cannot govern a family; he cannot govern a family unless he can govern himself; and he cannot govern himself unless his passions are subject to reason.— Hugo Grotius

A table for everyone who makes the year happen.

Grotius Encounters are our two annual celebrations — a Christmas dinner and a summer barbecue — for all the volunteers and frequent attendees of Grotius events. They are how we say thank you: for showing up, and for carrying the work.

Past Grotius LITE evenings

Reflections from past LITEs.

All past events →

27 February 2026
De ruimte van morgen

Niels Langenhuizen, Directeur, SDK Vastgoed — on entrepreneurship where people realise their dreams.
26 September 2025
Van Probleem naar Oplossing

Jordy Redding, Chief Operating Officer, Van de Beeten® — lessons from practice on meeting a challenge.
Recap →
6 June 2025
Data & AI Driven Innovation

Renzo Casapía, Co-Founder & CEO, LearnDat — how leadership is evolving in the era of AI.
21 March 2025
Entrepreneurship in a Virtual-Network Organization

Miles Herrera, Managing Partner, The Lean Six Sigma Company — resilience, perseverance and trust.