The NWO-funded project The Holocaust in "the Provinces": Local Dynamics in the Nazi-Occupied Netherlands (1925 - 1950) was launched in January 2023 under the leadership of dr. Geraldien von Frijtag Drabbe Künzel and prof.dr. Ido de Haan (Utrecht University, Department of History and Art History) and dr. Dienke Hondius (VU Amsterdam, History). With two PhD students the team has started investigating how the Dutch local community´s specific political and social structures and cultural customs impacted the persecution of the Jews in the Second World War, and, vice versa, how the persecution affected these structures and customs. In order to understand the genocidal process at a communal level, and its specific structures and customs, the project covers the period from the years leading up to the genocide, as well as its immediate aftermath (1925-1950). For more details, see https://localholocaust.nl.

For the next years of the project, we are seeking a post-doc to develop a synthetic account of communal aspects of the Holocaust in the Dutch provinces. In terms of geographical scope, the perspective switches here from the local to the intercommunal scope, and to dimensions of persecution of possibilities of evasion and escape between local communities. A key-question is to what extent escape routes were paved by pre-existing intercommunal personal ties and networks. A crucial aspect of this position in the project is to digitally process larger sets of data and to visualize local dynamics and intercommunal exchanges in a digital atlas of the persecution of Jews in the Dutch provinces. For more details on the Postdoc research, see https://localholocaust.nl/subproject-3-intercommunal-intersections-in-jewish-trajectories-of-evasion-and-escape.

We expect candidates to have:

• completed their PhD thesis, or to be close to completing their PhD thesis
• proven affinity with and/or experience in using Digital Humanities methods
• an excellent track-record in academic historical research, preferably in the field of Holocaust Studies
• good social and communication skills
• good command of Dutch and of English

Fixed-term contract: 1 year.

We offer a temporary position (0,8 FTE), for a period of 2 years. Employment will become effective on September 1, 2024, or, by mutual agreement, shortly thereafter.

On full-time basis the remuneration amounts to a minimum gross monthly salary of € 3.877,00 (scale 10) and a maximum € 5.090,00 (scale 10), depending on your education and experience. The job profile is based on the university job ranking system and is vacant for 0.8 FTE. The appointment will initially be for 1 year. After a satisfactory evaluation of the initial appointment, the contract will be extended.

We also offer you attractive fringe benefits and regulations. Some examples:

• a full-time 38-hour working week comes with a holiday leave entitlement of 232 hours per year. If you choose to work 40 hours, you have 96 extra holiday leave hours on an annual basis. For part-timers, this is calculated pro rata.
• 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
• solid pension scheme (ABP)
• optional model for designing a personalized benefits package
• contribution to commuting expenses

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Faculty of Humanities
At the Faculty of Humanities we explore the world around us through the study of language, history and philosophy. Three multidisciplinary departments make up the faculty: Language, Literature and Communication; Art & Culture, History and Antiquity; and Philosophy. We call this Humanities+.The plus stands for being open to new ideas, transcending disciplinary boundaries, searching for innovative teaching methods and small-scale personalised classroom environments.

We tackle complex social problems that demand a broad transdisciplinary approach. An approach that inspires us to learn from each other by moving across academic boundaries. Together we enrich our knowledge and creativity. Together we can find solutions that make a positive contribution to society.

Are you interested in joining Humanities? You will be joining an inspiring and personal working environment. Together with your 340 colleagues you will help provide top quality teaching and research.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam stands for values-driven education and research. We are open-minded experts with the ability to think freely. - a broader mind. Maintaining an entrepreneurial perspective and concentrating on diversity, significance and humanity, we work on sustainable solutions with social impact. By joining forces, across the boundaries of disciplines, we work towards a better world for people and planet. Together we create a safe and respectful working and study climate, and an inspiring environment for education and research. Learn more about our codes of conduct

We are located on one physical campus, in the heart of Amsterdam's Zuidas business district, with excellent location and accessibility. Over 5,500 staff work at the VU and over 30,000 students attend academic education.

Diversity
Diversity is the driving force of the VU. The VU wants to be accessible and receptive to diversity in disciplines, cultures, ideas, nationalities, beliefs, preferences and worldviews. We believe that trust, respect, interest and differences lead to new insights and innovation, to sharpness and clarity, to excellence and a broader understanding.

We stand for an inclusive community and believe that diversity and internationalisation contribute to the quality of education, research and our services.

Therefore, we are always searching for people whose backgrounds and experience contribute to the diversity of the VU community.