Dr J.W.J. Burgers (1953) has been named Professor of Disclosure of Sources and Instruments for Dutch History Studies at the University of Amsterdam’s (UvA) Faculty of Humanities. The chair was designated on behalf of the Institute of Netherlands History (ING).

Jan Burgers’ lectures and research will mainly focus on (medieval) written sources, which form the basis for historical research. Historians need optimal access to both published texts and written materials contained in archives and libraries. Burgers focuses on traditional auxiliary historical sciences that help read, date and interpret source materials, such as palaeography, chronology, codicology and diplomatics. His area of interest also includes the various aspects of source criticism: the methods and techniques used to accurately interpret written materials.

Burgers has served as a researcher at the ING since 2004. He previously worked at the UvA as a lecturer and researcher. His most recent appointment at the UvA, coupled with a tenure at Ghent University, saw him focus on a project initiated in 2006 by the Flemish-Dutch Committee for Dutch Language and Culture, entitled ‘The charters and chancellery of the Counts of Holland and Hainault, (1280)1299-1345'. Burgers has published various monographs and articles on medieval palaeography and diplomatics, narrative sources and the institutional and political history of Holland, including a study on and publication of the Rijmkroniek by author Melis Stoke. As a part of his duties at the ING, he is currently charged with the digital edition of the registers of the counts of Holland during the Hainault period (1316-1345).