Professor of Dutch History

Faculty/Services: Faculty of Humanities

Educational level: PhD

Function type: Academic Staff

Closing date: 13 March 2023

The Faculty of Humanities employs just under a thousand employees, and approximately 8,000 students study there. The faculty consists of eight departments: Philosophy, Dutch Studies, Media Studies, Art and Cultural Studies, History, European Studies and Religious Studies, Amsterdam Center for Ancient Studies and Archaeology, Modern Foreign Languages and Cultures, and Literature and Linguistics. Each department is made up of capacity groups, which consist of one or more professors and a number of employees who work in the relevant field. 

The Department of History, European Studies and Religious Studies has a vacancy for a full professorship in: 

Dutch History

1,0 FTE (permanent position) 

What are you going to do? 

Context of the chair

We are looking for candidates with an excellent track record in the field of Dutch History in a global perspective. With a focus on the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, this professorship focuses on the historicity of current societal questions and on the polyphony and diversity of the Dutch past and its historiography. Affinity with public historical approaches and digital methods is therefore expected. 

Teaching

The professor is an engaging teacher who participates in the extensive, Dutch-taught teaching programme of the BA, MA, Research MA (RMA), Master of Education (EduMSc) in History. This includes the MA Public History and various modules in the field of the transnational history of the Netherlands. The professor is able to further develop these educational programmes in collaboration with colleagues. More details can be found at: https://www.uva.nl/discipline/geschiedenis/onderwijs/opleidingenaanbod.html. 

Research

The professor is part of the Amsterdam School of Historical Studies (ASH) and initiates, stimulates and develops research into the history of the Netherlands in a global context. The candidate is expected to take a leading, proactive role within the current chair group and research group, the department and the research school, and in research priority areas of the Faculty. In line with recent shifts in perspectives on Dutch history and identity, the professor has a demonstrable expertise in societal research themes such as inequality, gender and/or ecological and spatial history, and is sensitive to polyphonous and inclusive approaches to academic scholarship. 

The professor plays an active role in identifying and guiding potential PhD candidates and will offer candidates with an underprivileged or non-traditional background appropriate support in this process. 

Of particular importance is the professor's ability to attract research funding and to encourage and guide others in successfully applying for external funding. In addition, we are looking for candidates who can strengthen existing collaborations with the Humanities Cluster of the KNAW (Huygens, Meertens, IISH, NIOD and NL-Lab), as well as with other cultural partners and institutions in Amsterdam and beyond. 

Leadership

We are looking for a dedicated teamleader who can both support and motivate colleagues, creating a nurturing environment that allows others to thrive. You will lead the chair group Dutch History (approx. 10 employees), in terms of human resource management (career development, professionalisation, coordination) and offer mentorship. The chair group is part of the History capacity group and the larger Department of History, European Studies and Religious Studies (approx. 100 FTE). The professor is willing and able to take on additional administrative responsibilities at departmental and/or faculty level (such as head of department, programme director, research school/institute director). 

Your tasks and responsibilities:

• teaching modern Dutch history from transational and global perspectives, including supervising Bachelor and Master theses;
• contributing to innovation and improvement of the curriculum in the field of Dutch history and Public history;
• addressing research themes and projects within the chair group and research groups;
• actively pursuing external funding for research, notably funding from research councils, national as well as European;
• carrying out HR-responsibilities with the chair group Dutch history;
• carrying out administrative and management tasks within the Department and Faculty. 

What expertise do we require of you? 

The successful candidate for the position is expected to meet the following requirements.

You:

• hold a PhD in Dutch history or a related academic field;
• have an excellent international academic reputation and publication profile, which match the research theme’s of ASH;
• have affinity with inclusive, polyphonous historical scholarship and digital methods;
• are an experienced and engaged teacher at all levels of academic training;
• have expertise in developing and renewing teaching programmes at Bachelor and Master levels;
• can show a track record of applying for/acquiring external research funding;
• have experience with attracting and supervising PhD projects and junior researchers;
• have proven management and leadership qualities and dedicated administrator;
• have a broad national and international network with academic and cultural institutions;
• has affinity with outreach and knowledge exchange beyond academic settings.
• have a Dutch Basic Teaching Qualification, or a willingness to acquire one within the first two years of your appointment;
• have a good command of Dutch and English. If you are not fluent in Dutch, you have a willingness to pass the state examination for Dutch as a Second Language programme II within two years of the employment contract. The Faculty will assist in this process. 

Please also check the document ‘Information about chairs at the Faculty of Humanities’ for more information. 

We are committed to a culturally and intellectually diverse academic community and are especially interested in candidates who can contribute, through their research, teaching and/or service, to this mission. We particularly encourage people from underrepresented groups to apply. 

Our offer 

The appointment will be permanent. The gross salary will normally conform to professorial scale 2, between €6,099 and €8,881 gross per month (€85,117 - €123,943 per annum, including 8% holiday pay and an 8,3% end of year payment) on a full-time basis (38 hours per week) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU). In certain cases, however, different terms of employment may be offered. 

Curious about our organisation and attractive fringe benefits such as a generous holiday arrangement and development opportunities? Read more about working at the University of Amsterdam. 

About us

The University of Amsterdam is the Netherlands' largest university, offering the widest range of academic programmes. At the UvA, 42,000 students, 6,000 staff members and 3,000 PhD candidates study and work in a diverse range of fields, connected by a culture of curiosity. 

The Faculty of Humanities provides education and conducts research with a strong international profile in a large number of disciplines in the field of language and culture. Located in the heart of Amsterdam, the faculty maintains close ties with many cultural institutes in the capital city. Research and teaching staff focus on interdisciplinary collaboration and are active in several teaching programmes. 

Any questions? 

Do you have any questions or do you require additional information? Please contact (during office hours):

• for questions about the profile: prof. dr. Geert Janssen, chair of the Department of History, European Studies and Religious Studies;
• for procedural questions: Brigit van der Pas, secretary of the selection committee. 

Job Application 

Do you recognise yourself in the job profile? Then we look forward to receiving your application, addressed to The Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Prof. Marieke de Goede. 

You can apply online via the UvA website. Applications in Dutch or English, including a motivation letter, a detailed CV and a list of publications, should be submitted as a single PDF file.

The response period closes on 13 March 2023. Only complete applications received within the response period via the link below will be considered. 

Applications will be received by a selection committee headed by the chair of the Department of History, European Studies and Religious Studies, Prof. Geert Janssen. Following a procedure which may involve a formal leadership assessment and a trial lecture, the committee will make its final recommendation to the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities. The first interviews will be held around May 2023. 

The UvA is an equal-opportunity employer. We prioritize diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for everyone. We value a spirit of enquiry and perseverance, provide the space to keep asking questions, and promote a culture of curiosity and creativity.

No agencies please