CIROC seminars


CIROC focuses on knowledge transfer from theory to practice and vice versa, and the disclosure of information about organized crime and the fight against it for Dutch audiences. This takes shape through seminars organized four or five times a year in Utrecht on a topical issue in the field of organized crime. The themes are introduced by speakers from the Netherlands and abroad.

The aim is to make the subject accessible for different groups (scientists and scientific institutions, central government, public prosecutors, law enforcement agencies, the judiciary and relevant free-professional groups) and to initiate a discussion. In the archives of the seminars you can find an overview of the programs and the presentations (mostly in Dutch).
 

  • Upcoming seminars

    24-hour Virtual Conference on Global Organized Crime


    Wednesday, November 4, 2026 - Online - Call for applications


    Since 2020, six editions of OC24 have taken place, bringing together researchers and practitioners from all over the world.

    This year, we’re excited to host a continuous 24-hour edition of the conference. Twenty-four sessions will run sequentially in one Zoom webinar, allowing participants to follow the full programme without choosing between parallel streams. Organized crime scholars and practitioners will discuss topics including human trafficking, drug trafficking, cybercrime, corruption and the impact of climate change on organized crime worldwide.

    Submit individual proposals, no later than 16 September 2026, to Dina Siegel at d.siegel@uu.nl, or full panel proposals to Jay Albanese at jsalbane@vcu.edu.

    English is the official language of the OC24 conference. 
    Please address queries to iasoc@globalinitiative.net
    Click here for more information. 

     

    Organised Crime in Europe and Beyond; Reflections on the developments of organised crime


    Wednesday, December 2, 2026 - Location Amsterdam 


    We are organizing this special seminar to celebrate CIROC's 25th year anniversary. 
     

    In 2001, emeritus Professor of Criminology at Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) and VU University Amsterdam, Henk van de Bunt decided, in cooperation with a number of colleagues who were involved in conducting research into organised crime, to establish the Centre of Information and Research on Organized Crime (CIROC). Today, scholars from six different institutions participate in this network: Erasmus University Rotterdam, VU University Amsterdam, Utrecht University, Tilburg University, Maastricht University, and the Research and Data Centre of the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security (WODC). From the start, CIROC’s mission has been to contribute to international co-operation and information sharing about current developments and trends regarding transnational organized crime. The centre aims at building bridges between organized crime scholars on the one hand, and policy makers and law enforcement officials on the other. One way of doing that is by inviting organized crime specialists from all over the world to give keynote presentations and discuss their findings and ideas with the audience.  For 25 years, CIROC has organized more than 70 seminars on organized crime-related topics – including six online 24th conferences on global organized crime in co-operation with ECPRSGOC, IASOC and the Global Initiative network – and published dozens of Dutch and English newsletters. The most interesting papers that were presented at CIROC-seminars in the last 25 years have been published in four edited volumes, published by Springer.

    This seminar is not only meant for celebrating this special occasion, but intends to both look back at major developments regarding organised crime during the previous 25 years, as well as look ahead at major future developments in the near future that may influence licit and illicit markets and the way criminal entrepreneurs operate in these markets. Several renowned academic scholars will contribute to the programme, including Laetitia Paoli, Jay Albanese, Zora Hauser, and Francesco Calderoni. And, for the first time in the 25 year-existence of CIROC, all members of the board of CIROC will participate in the programme as well.
     

    Programme
    09.15 - 09.45   Registration and coffee - VU Amsterdam

    Morning session: looking back 
    Moderator: Hans Nelen (UM; CIROC)

    09.45 - 10.00   Welcome 
    10.00 - 10.45   Letizia Paoli (KU Leuven): Organised Crime in Europe; major developments during the 25 years after the publication of the edited volume
    10.45 - 11.30   Zora Hauser (University of Cambridge): The Dynamics of Mafia Expansion: Trade, Governance, and Hibernation
    11.30 - 11.45   Discussion
    11.45 - 12.00   Coffee break
    12.00 - 12.45   Francesco Calderoni (Uni Cattolica del Sacro Cuore; Trans crime): 25 years of fighting and containing organised crime
    12.45 - 13.00   Discussion

    Lunch

    Afternoon session: Looking forward 
    Moderator: Dina Siegel (UU, CIROC)

    14.00 - 14.45   Jay Albanese (Virginia Commonwealth University): Organised crime beyond Europe
    14.45 - 16.00   Roundtable 25 years of CIROC-activities; the members of the board of CIROC, as well as representatives of law enforcement agencies interviewed by Jay Albanese on the main challenges for future research and CIROC-activities.
    16.00 - 17.30   Reception 

     

    Costs: 
    The cost of participating in this seminar is €245,-. This amount includes lunch and reception.
    A special arrangement applies to students: we are pleased to welcome up to 15 students from the universities participating in CIROC (EUR/TU/UM/UU/VU) at a reduced rate of €25.
     

    Location: 
    The seminar will take place in the main building of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU) at De Boelelaan 1105. 
     

    Registration: 
    You can register until Monday 16 November, via this link. 
    Space is limited, so sign up quickly - once it’s full, it’s full. Your registration is confirmed once payment is received. You can choose from several payment options, including instant payment (iDeal, Visa or Mastercard, or PayPal). After payment, you can download your invoice.
     

    Cancellation: 
    You may cancel free of charge up to 7 days before the seminar begins. After that, 20% of your payment will be charged, and 100% will be charged starting two days before the seminar.
     

    Accessibility: 
    The VU Campus can be reached from Amsterdam Central Station by Metro or tram and from Amsterdam South Station by foot in 10 minutes. 
    Paid parking is available in the parking garages on and around the campus or on public streets.