HiDo brings scholars from various disciplines together in order to study historical long-term trends in partner choice, marriage, family formation and (causes of) mortality. Moreover, the network aims to give a boost to colonial demography and citizen science, and to create lasting collaborations between historical demographers and geneticists.

HiDO is funded by the Research Foundation Flanders.

HiDo consists of 14 research groups from Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Norway, UK, Spain, Sweden, and The Netherlands.