Professor of Dutch History Henk te Velde to be new interim Dean of the Faculty of Humanities
Professor of Dutch History prof.dr. H. (Henk) te Velde will become interim Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at Leiden University for a two-year term with effect from 1 March 2025. He will succeed prof.dr. M.R. (Mark) Rutgers. Mark Rutgers’ second term of office expires on 1 March 2025; he will be professor emeritus on 6 September 2025.
Henk te Velde is professor of Dutch History. His field of expertise is Dutch (and West European) history from the late 18th century to the present day, focusing on political history and its effect on contemporary politics. He has published on such subjects as the history of liberalism and nationalism and on political leadership and political traditions. Topics he has covered include political culture, rhetoric, debate and eloquence, constitutional and structural political issues and parliamentary politics. In 2025 he will publish a history of political eloquence and the discussion culture in the Netherlands from 1800 onwards.
Henk te Velde is also chair of the Royal Netherlands Historical Society (KNHG) and a member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW). He is a member of the independent commission that is overseeing research on the royal house in colonial history. He was previously scientific director of the Institute for History and, ad interim, of the LIAS.
Henk te Velde on his appointment: ‘It’s good that the decision has finally been made, and the confidence placed in me to fulfill this interim role is both encouraging and an honor. I feel it is my duty to serve the faculty where I have worked with so much pleasure for so long, if I am able to do so. It will not be easy. I will do my best to contribute to a strong and future-proof Faculty of Humanities.’
Administrative experience
The university’s Executive Board is pleased with the appointment, says Rector Magnificus Hester Bijl. ‘We are very pleased that Henk te Velde is taking on this challenging role. He is a true connector, knows the faculty very well, and brings important administrative experience. Henk is open to advice and ideas from others, yet he does not shy away from making tough decisions. And that is exactly what we need, as these are incredibly trying times for the Faculty of Humanities. Henk has a deep commitment to the faculty, as do we on the Executive Board. I am therefore confident that Henk is the right person to guide the Faculty through this difficult period together with the other board members.’
Pleasant colleague
The Faculty Board shares the opinion of the Executive Board. ‘We know Henk te Velde as a valued colleague and a dedicated administrator. He knows the faculty well, and we are pleased that he is willing to commit himself as dean for our faculty in the coming years,’ says Vice Dean Jeroen Touwen on behalf of the Faculty Board.
The Executive Board and the Faculty Board would like to sincerely thank departing Dean Mark Rutgers for the pleasant and professional manner in which they have worked with him over the past years.
The Faculty of Humanities currently also has a vacancy for an interim Vice-Dean. Filling this position will take a little more time to give the new interim Dean the opportunity to play a role in the procedure. The aim is to complete this procedure by the end of the year. Farewell occasions for the departing dean and vice dean will occur in 2025.