People, Space & Places in History (PS&P)

The program People, Space & Places in History focuses on the spatial and regional dimensions of human life from a historical perspective.

Program directors

dr. Paul Brusse (Utrecht University)
dr. Tim Soens (University of Antwerp)


Description of the theme

This program focuses on the spatial and regional dimensions of human life from a historical perspective. It is inspired by the research of  fellows at University of Antwerp, University of Groningen, Wageningen University, Maastricht University, Utrecht University, VU University Amsterdam, VU Brussels and Ghent University.

The program started in 2004 under the title Regions in space: interaction, construction and transformation directed by prof.dr. Maarten Duijvendak (RUG) and prof.dr. Ad Knotter (CSGL). In October 2005 dr. Anton Schuurman (WU) replaced Knotter and the program got its current title. Over the years the program has been changed slightly.

The importance and relevance of the regional and the spatial approach in history

Starting from the idea that the immediate surroundings and the local circumstances (in the sphere of soil, landscape, environment, economy, social relations, politics and administration, institutions, religion and culture) influence or perhaps determine human actions and behavior, the region is a relevant point of departure for historical research. This is all the more important because the organization of society is often determined on a regional or local level. Regional research focuses attention on (certain aspects of) the history of the people in a marked region, though without neglecting the developments in nearby regions. A comparison of developments per region is essential, because only in this way the researcher can demonstrate the importance of specific regional circumstances for human behavior and how unique certain regional developments have been. Regional historical research employs by definition different geographical borders than nationally orientated research and the marked region is usually, but not necessarily smaller than the country or countries in which the region is situated. Of course, by carrying out regional research one can not ignore national and international developments either; the interaction between global and local is an important subject for regional research. How to mark out a region is always a problem, but when the region is not too large, the regional perspective offers distinctive possibilities for historical research and crystal-clear insights in the past. Perhaps the strength of this approach is that the complexity of and the coherence between different long term developments in society can be brought into vision. Regional research is very suitable for an integral line of approach.

There is another reason for the relevance of the regional and spatial perspective in history. Space is not just something out there, but it is socially, economically, culturally and politically constructed. People give a meaning to space, they experience space, often they derive a part of their identity from the region or city where they live.  So regional research is also about spatial differences as shaped by social practices and processes.

Focus points and the time period of the program

The time period spans the past millennium and the first decade of the new one. The program has several focus points where the regional perspective is important, such as:

  • regional differences and variety
  • interaction between (inter)national and regional developments (between global and local: glocalisation)
  • interaction between regions
  • city-countryside relations
  • rural and agricultural history
  • urban history and urban networks
  • center and periphery
  • ecological history
  • landscape and built environment
  • meaning of space
  • cultural heritage

Program or network? The aim of PS&P

PS&P is in the first place a network of scholars working on regional history in relation to the subjects mentioned above. An important aim of the directors is to maintain this network and to extend it within the Netherlands and Belgium and to encourage the mutual cooperation, for example at the application for funds and the acquisition and realization of research projects. Another goal is to keep each other informed of the research activities of the associated fellows. Furthermore the directors have the intention to expand the relations with fellows of other disciplines like social and economic geographers, environmental scientists and regional economists. Because regional history is practiced everywhere in the world, the directors are determined to establish relations with scholars abroad (outside the Netherlands and Belgium). PS&P works together as much as possible with other research networks in the field of regional and spatial history (e.g. Comparative Rural History of the North Sea Area (CORN)). It is the ambition to stimulate the debate on the regional and spatial approach in history and also to encourage new research and to enlarge our knowledge. In order to do so the directors of PS&P will co-organize activities such as workshops, conferences and master-classes.

Examples of recent and current research projects

  1. Democratisation and modernisation in the Dutch countryside, 1840-1920. (Anton Schuurman)
  2. Labour markets in the mining industry in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine in the 20the century (Ad Knotter)
  3. Cuius Regio. An analysis of the cohesive and disruptive forces determining the attachment and commitment of (groups of) persons to and the cohesion within regions (Dick de Boer and Maarten Duijvendak)
  4. Economische geschiedenis van Den Haag (Karel Davids)
  5. Stedelijke nevel: metamorfose van de regio Schiphol in de 20ste eeuw (Karel Davids) (onderdeel van het NWO-programma Urbanisatie en Stadscultuur)
  6. The balance between city and countryside. De-urbanisation and the rise of an agrarian society. Zeeland 1700-1860 (Paul Brusse , Wijnand Mijnhardt)
  7. Geschiedenis van Zeeland (Paul Brusse)
  8. Culinary networks of power (Peter Scholliers)
  9. Artisan quality (Peter Scholliers)
  10. Material Culture Limburg miners (Peter Scholliers)
  11. Memento Mori. Sterven en begraven in Noord-Nederland en Noordwest-Duitsland (Interreg IVA van de Eems Dollard Regio) (Maarten Duijvendak)
  12. Kenniscreatie en kenniscirculatie in de Oostenrijkse Nederlanden: de runderpestepizoötie van 1769 - 1785 (Filip Van Roosbroeck; Tim Soens; Bert De Munck)
  13. De competitie over de commons in de laat middeleeuwse Kempen (Maïka De Keyzer; Tim Soens)
  14. Haantjesgedrag. Lokale elites in een veranderende samenleving: een comparatief onderzoek naar machtsverwerving in Vlaamse en Brabantse dorpsgemeenschappen (13e-16e eeuw) (Tim Soens; Erik Thoen; Eline Van Onacker; Kristof Dombrecht)
  15. Verdronken maar niet verlaten. Interacties tussen sociale en ecologische veerkracht van estuariene landschappen na overstromingen (Tim Soens; Stijn Temmerman)
  16. Ecologische conflicten en plattelandsgemeenschappen (Tim Soens)
  17. The economic miracle of the Dutch province of Noord-Brabant (1900) 1960-2012 (pilot, prof. dr. Ron Boschma, dr. Paul Brusse, prof. dr. Erik Stam)
  18. Live changes in rural societies in the Netherlands (17th-20th century), (dr. Richard Paping, dr. Erwin Karel)
  19. The rural movement in Flanders, 1960-1990 (Chantal Bisschop, Yves Segers, Leen Van Molle)
  20. Plant nutritioning, fertilizing advice, and soil analysis in Belgium, 20th-21st century (Hanne De Winter, Yves Segers, Hilde Vandendriessche)
  21. Paradoxical rurality. Dwelling in rural Flanders, 1948-1978 (Rien Emmery, Leen Van Molle, Yves Segers)
  22. Creating a knowledge network. Agricultural research in Flanders and Belgium and the role of public authorities, 1930s-1990s (Jan Roobrouck, Yves Segers, Leen Van Molle)
  23. Farming in tropical Africa. Agricultural science and knowledge networks in Belgian Congo, 1908-1960 (Jens Van de Maele, Yves Segers, Leen Van Molle)
  24. First World War, agriculture and food (Yves Segers, Leen Van Molle)
  25. Farming and rural knowledge networks, 1750-2000 (Yves Segers, Leen Van Molle)

Staff members

  • prof.dr. Koos Bosma (VU University Amsterdam)
  • dr. Paul Brusse (Utrecht University)
  • dr. Piet van Cruyningen (Huygens ING)
  • prof.dr. Karel Davids (VU University Amsterdam)
  • prof.dr. Maarten Duijvendak (University of Groningen)
  • dr. Erwin Karel (University of Groningen)
  • prof.dr. Ad Knotter (Maastricht University)
  • prof.dr. Hans Mol (University of Leiden, Fryske Akademy) 
  • dr. Willibrord Rutten (Maastricht University)
  • prof.dr. Peter Scholliers (Vrije Universiteit Brussels)
  • dr. Anton Schuurman (Wageningen University)
  • prof.dr. Yves Segers (ICAG, University of Leuven and HUB) 
  • dr. Tim Soens (University of Antwerp)
  • dr. Milja Tielhof (Utrecht University, Huygens ING) 
  • prof.dr. Erik Thoen (Ghent University)
  • prof.dr. Leen Van Molle (MoSa, University of Leuven) 

PhD students

  • Hans de Beukelaer (University of Groningen)
  • Chantal Bisschop (ICAG, University of Leuven)
  • Janny Bloembergen (Wageningen University)
  • Hanne De Winter (ICAG, University of Leuven)
  • Rien Emmery (MoSa, University of Leuven) 
  • Tjebbe de Jong (University of Groningen)
  • Floris Joustra (University of Groningen)
  • Maïka de Keyzer (University of Antwerp)
  • Heleen Kole (Utrecht University)
  • Kees Kuiken (University of Groningen)
  • Karin Lurvink (VU University Amsterdam)
  • Korrie Melis (University of Groningen)
  • Ophelia Ongena (Ghent University)
  • Eline Van Onacker (University of Antwerp)
  • Jan Roobrouck, (ICAG, University of Leuven and ILVO)
  • Jens Van de Maele (ICAG, University of Leuven) 
  • Filip Van Roosbroeck (University of Antwerp)
  • Lies Vervaet (Ghent University)
  • Thijs van Vugt (Maastricht University)
  • Mathijs Witte (Wageningen University

Posthumus Institute
Last Modified: 23-04-2012