Research School for Economic and Social History

The N.W. Posthumus Institute (NWP), currently hosted by the Department of History & Art History of Utrecht University, is named after Nicolaas Wilhelmus Posthumus (1880-1960), the first professor in economic and social history in the Netherlands.

The NWP promotes innovative and advanced interdisciplinary research in economic and social history by stimulating joint research programmes of participating institutes. To this purpose, the NWP provides a PhD training in economic and social history, as well as a four course-programme for Research Master students. Annually, the N.W. Posthumus Institute also organises its Annual Posthumus Conference.

The NWP is also participating in the European graduate School for Training in Economic and social historical Research (ESTER), a Europe-wide network of leading scholars in the field of social and economic history and as such co-organiser of Research Design Courses and Advanced Seminars within the ESTER programme.

Please check out our contact page for contact details.

News

PhD Defence Posthumus alumnus Junhao Cao

On 25 February 2026, Posthumus alumnus Junhao Cao will defend the PhD thesis ‘Property Rights and Agricultural Growth in Northwestern Europe, ...

Wouter Ronsijn ends tasks as Research Network Coordinator

Because of accepting a new position in academia, Wouter Ronsijn had to decide to end his tasks as Research Network Coordinator of the Research Network ...

Jaarcongres Werkgroep ‘De Nieuwe Tijd’ 2026

~ because of scope in Dutch only ~ De werkgroep De Moderne Tijd organiseert op 20 maart 2026 in Amsterdam een jubileumcongres met als thema ‘Feest! ...

Call for abstracts Workshop ‘From Matrimonial Ads to Dating Apps: Unraveling the Partnering Market’ – deadline 15 April 2026

The organisers of the Workshop ‘From Matrimonial Ads to Dating Apps: Unraveling the Partnering Market’ call for paper abstracts for this ...

Call for abstracts Workshop ‘The Environmental History of Mining in Southern Africa, 1870-2020’ – deadline 15 February 2026

Between the 25 and 27 August, the Boom to Dust project (funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO) and the African Studies Centre Leiden) will be hosting a ...

Combined picture of Anne Winter and Bob Pierik

Changes in General Board N.W. Posthumus Institute

Recently, we had some changes within the General Board of the N.W. Posthumus Institute. Professor Anne Winter, previously acting as substitute ...

Jubilee competition Royal Frisian Society for History and Culture (KFG) 2027 – deadline 31 December 2026

In 2027, the Keninklik Frysk Genoatskip foar Skiednis en Kultuer / Royal Frisian Society for History and Culture (KFG) will be 200 years old. One of the ...

Workshop ‘Histories of taxation, (in)equality, and redistribution’ – deadline proposals 6 February 2026

The Research School Political History and the Duitsland Instituut Amsterdam jointly organise the workshop ‘Histories of taxation, (in)equality, and ...

Scriptieprijs Brabantse Geschiedenis 2026 – deadline 1 maart 2026

~ because of scope in Dutch only ~ Erfgoed Brabant, de Historische Vereniging Brabant en Stichting Zuidelijk Historisch Contact willen de wetenschappelijke ...

Office Manager René van Weeren interviewed on history of marriage legislation

René van Weeren, Office Manager of the N.W. Posthumus Institute and co-author (with Tine De Moor) of the publication ‘Ja, ik wil! Verliefd, verloofd, ...

Oproep voorstellen KHMW Treub bate (deadline 31 januari 2026)

~ because of scope in Dutch only ~ Het bestuur van de Koninklijke Hollandsche Maatschappij der Wetenschappen (KHMW) stelt met ingang van 2026 vanuit het ...

Janna Coomans bij hoofdrolspelers 2025 RTV Utrecht

~ because of scope in Dutch only ~ Janna Coomans, coördinator van het onderzoeksnetwerk ‘Economy and Society of the Pre-industrial Low Countries in ...

Portrait photo Professor Marlou Schrover

Save the date: Valedictory lecture Professor Marlou Schrover

On 6 March 2026, Professor Marlou Schrover, longstanding board member of the N.W. Posthumus Institute, will deliver her valedictory lecture at Leiden ...

PhD candidate in Governance and Legal History of Water Quality (Tilburg University) – deadline 27 February 2026

The Department of Public Law and Governance of Tilburg University is looking for a PhD candidate in Governance and Legal History of Water Quality. The PhD ...

KNHG publishes updated version ‘Professional standards for historians’

The KNHG (Koninklijk Nederlands Historisch Genootschap [transl. Royal Dutch Historical Society]) recently updated the already existing Dutch version of the ...

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