Erasmus University Rotterdam has acquired an endowed chair in maritime history. The chair is being founded by the Maritime Museum Rotterdam which pursues an active scientific research policy. Stepping up cooperation offers good opportunities for the further development of research and its valorisation for a university in the huge port and industrial city of Rotterdam with its extensive industrial Rhine hinterland. Moreover closer collaboration enhances the visibility of the university in the city and port. The Maritime Museum is keen to acquire new insights so that it can tell new stories about the maritime world to a wide audience.

The appointment of a professor of Maritime History with an endowed chair at Erasmus University will be for a period of four years. During this period the professor will teach students maritime history, carry out research, publish and coordinate scientific research at the Maritime Museum. The new professor will be working closely with the  Erasmus Center for the History of the Rhine.

The founding of an endowed chair on behalf of the Maritime Museum reinforces cooperation in the field of education, research and valorisation. The dean of the Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication Dick Douwes: “The unique bridge created between the university and the museum through the founding of this endowed chair is of vital importance. The museum receives academic input and the university can put its social relevance into practice.”

Promoting scientific research into the maritime world is a spearhead of the Maritime Museum Rotterdam. The traces of the maritime world, from the Dutch East Indies Company VOC to the Rotterdam port and the high tech offshore sector are clearly present in the culture and daily life of the Netherlands. By carrying out research our knowledge of maritime history grows and new narratives are discovered that the museum shares with the public at large through publications and new exhibitions. The professor will also be academic curator in the museum. Head of Collections Jeroen ter Brugge: “I am proud that we have the opportunity to found an endowed professorship for performing and promoting research into the maritime world. We have an excellent collection and a vast knowledge of maritime history but with the new insights we expect to gain we can tell new stories to our visitors.”

With thanks

At times of government cuts in the arts and culture the Maritime Museum has no financial scope to endow a chair in maritime history. The costs of this are being fully sponsored by various funds including the Stichting Bevordering van Volkskracht, Mondriaan Fonds, Vereniging Vrienden van het Maritiem Museum Rotterdam (Friends of the Maritime Museum), Sociaal Fonds Multi Terminals, Erasmusstichting, Erasmus Trustfonds, G.Ph. Verhagen Stichting and the Van Cappellen Stichting.

For more information:

Press information Erasmus University Rotterdam

T (010) 408 1216

E press@eur.nl

 Liesbeth Diepenhorst, Marketing & Communication Maritime Museum Rotterdam

T (010) 413 2680

E l.diepenhorst@maritiemmuseum.nl