Thomas von der Dunk
Encyclopedia
Thomas von der Dunk is a Dutch cultural historian
, writer, and columnist who has written for de Volkskrant
and HP/De Tijd
.
A controversial figure, in 2011 Von der Dunk angered Dutch politicians from the ruling government coalition to the extent that they cancelled one of his public lectures.
Von der Dunk was raised in Bilthoven, and from 1979 to 1988 studied art history at the University of Amsterdam. He was a doctoral candidate in the history department at Leiden University
(1989–1993), and received his Ph.D. in 1994, having written a dissertation on the political and ideological characteristics of the cult of monuments in the Holy Roman Empire
between the fourteenth and the eighteenth century. He worked at Utrecht University
from 1994 to 1999, and from 1999 to 2002 again in Leiden.
Since 2002 he has been working as a freelance writer and pundit. From 2010 to 2011 he wrote a regular column for HP/De Tijd
, but was fired in March 2011., and is now an online columnist for de Volkskrant
and a columnist for the regional paper De Gelderlander
.
In April 2011, Von der Dunk was to give the annual Willem Arondéus
lecture, organized by the States-Provincial
of North-Holland. Politicians from the PVV
, CDA
, and VVD
prevented this, claiming that his lecture was too partisan. However, VVD and CDA later decided to let Von der Dunk give his lecture anyway.
Cultural history
The term cultural history refers both to an academic discipline and to its subject matter.Cultural history, as a discipline, at least in its common definition since the 1970s, often combines the approaches of anthropology and history to look at popular cultural traditions and cultural...
, writer, and columnist who has written for de Volkskrant
De Volkskrant
de Volkskrant is a national daily Dutch morning newspaper, the leading centre-left broadsheet, although now in tabloid size.-History:...
and HP/De Tijd
HP/De Tijd
HP/De Tijd is a Dutch weekly magazine, published by Audax Publishing. HP/De Tijd was founded in 1990, after a merger of the Haagse Post and De Tijd. It is conventionally considered to be one of the four most influential written media in its sector, along with De Groene Amsterdammer, Vrij Nederland...
.
A controversial figure, in 2011 Von der Dunk angered Dutch politicians from the ruling government coalition to the extent that they cancelled one of his public lectures.
Von der Dunk was raised in Bilthoven, and from 1979 to 1988 studied art history at the University of Amsterdam. He was a doctoral candidate in the history department at Leiden University
Leiden University
Leiden University , located in the city of Leiden, is the oldest university in the Netherlands. The university was founded in 1575 by William, Prince of Orange, leader of the Dutch Revolt in the Eighty Years' War. The royal Dutch House of Orange-Nassau and Leiden University still have a close...
(1989–1993), and received his Ph.D. in 1994, having written a dissertation on the political and ideological characteristics of the cult of monuments in the Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
between the fourteenth and the eighteenth century. He worked at Utrecht University
Utrecht University
Utrecht University is a university in Utrecht, Netherlands. It is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands and one of the largest in Europe. Established March 26, 1636, it had an enrollment of 29,082 students in 2008, and employed 8,614 faculty and staff, 570 of which are full professors....
from 1994 to 1999, and from 1999 to 2002 again in Leiden.
Since 2002 he has been working as a freelance writer and pundit. From 2010 to 2011 he wrote a regular column for HP/De Tijd
HP/De Tijd
HP/De Tijd is a Dutch weekly magazine, published by Audax Publishing. HP/De Tijd was founded in 1990, after a merger of the Haagse Post and De Tijd. It is conventionally considered to be one of the four most influential written media in its sector, along with De Groene Amsterdammer, Vrij Nederland...
, but was fired in March 2011., and is now an online columnist for de Volkskrant
De Volkskrant
de Volkskrant is a national daily Dutch morning newspaper, the leading centre-left broadsheet, although now in tabloid size.-History:...
and a columnist for the regional paper De Gelderlander
De Gelderlander
De Gelderlander is a regional newspaper for the Gelderland region of the Netherlands. It is published by Wegener....
.
In April 2011, Von der Dunk was to give the annual Willem Arondéus
Willem Arondeus
Willem Arondeus was a homosexual Dutch artist and author, who joined the anti-Nazi resistance movement during World War II.-Early life:...
lecture, organized by the States-Provincial
States-Provincial
The States'-Provincial is the provincial parliament and legislative assembly in each of the Provinces of the Netherlands. It is elected for each province simultaneously once every four years and has the responsibility for matters of sub-national or regional importance...
of North-Holland. Politicians from the PVV
Party for Freedom
The Party for Freedom is a Dutch right-wing political party. Founded in 2005 as the successor to Geert Wilders' one-man party in the House of Representatives, it won nine seats in the 2006 general election, making it the fifth largest party in parliament, and third largest opposition party. It...
, CDA
Christian Democratic Appeal
The Christian Democratic Appeal is a centre-right Dutch Christian democratic political party. It suffered severe losses in the 2010 elections and fell from the first to the fourth place...
, and VVD
People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
The People's Party for Freedom and Democracy is a conservative-liberal political party located in the Netherlands. The VVD supports private enterprise in the Netherlands and is often perceived as an economic liberal party in contrast to the social-liberal Democrats 66 alongside which it sits in...
prevented this, claiming that his lecture was too partisan. However, VVD and CDA later decided to let Von der Dunk give his lecture anyway.