The new professor takes over from emeritus professor Dolly Verhoeven, who had been professor by special appointment of Gelderland history since 2014. ‘Thanks to her, there is a strong foundation of historical knowledge about Gelderland's history, such as with the book series Het Verhaal van Gelderland’, Storms-Smeets points out. 'Based on the adage “learning from the past”, as a historical geographer and landscape historian, I build on this. In-depth historical research can form a strong basis for contemporary spatial and social tasks such as climate adaptation, agricultural transition, inclusive participation, nature conservation and urban growth.'
'Those kinds of issues I hope to tackle together with students. On the one hand, into the landscape: what do you see now, what do you notice in the current landscape, what does this say about Gelderland? We can combine those insights with maps and other archival sources, such as registers and ego documents . This will hopefully result in social internships, theses and other projects that will bring Gelderland's history closer to everyone. Important in this is to look at Gelderland in the world, and the world in Gelderland. After all, Gelderland has always been part of a larger world, connected to other regions and countries by natural, social, political and economic connections.'
With the special chair, Province of Gelderland is making the connection between scientific basis and perception of Gelderland's history. Gedeputeerde Peter Drenth: ‘It is not only about research into history and identity formation in Gelderland, but also about making it widely accessible. In doing so, the chair contributes to strengthening regional identity and to the preservation and visibility of our heritage.'
About Elyze Storms-Smeets
Elyze Storms-Smeets (Valkenburg aan de Geul, 1975) studied Social Geography with specialisation historical geography) at Utrecht University, where she graduated in 1998. In 2005, she obtained her PhD from the University of Leeds, with a thesis entitled ‘Landscape and Society: a geography of Dutch country estates, 1800-1950’.
Since 2007, Storms-Smeets has worked at the Gelders Genootschap as senior advisor and researcher landscape and heritage, with projects such as Gelders Arcadië, Kastelenboek Gelderland, IDfabriek Achterhoek, Innocastle and Oorlog in Arcadië. From 2012 to 2017, she was attached to the Landscape Knowledge Centre of the University of Groningen as associate professor of Historical Country Houses and Estates. From 2021, she is attached to Wageningen University & Research as extraordinary associate professor of Cultural Heritage and Participatory Spatial Development.
In 2024, Storms-Smeets and her research team won the Ithaka Prize for best book in the field of estate research with the book ‘Oorlog in Arcadië - Nederlandse kastelen en landgoederen in de Tweede Wereldoorlog’. She is also a member of the National Heritage Research Council and the Landscape History Committee of the Royal Limburg Historical and Archaeological Society. Storms-Smeets is also a board member of the Limburg Castles Foundation and will join the board of Vereniging Gelre this year.
Photo: Helena Storms