Celine Oldenhage wins tenth Verloren Publishers/Johan de Witt thesis prize

Celine Oldenhage’s Master’s thesis Uit de zekerheid des doods en onzeker uure vandien: Graven en begraven worden in de Amsterdamse kerken na 1578 (From the Certainty of Death and Uncertain Hours Thereof: Graves and Burials in Amsterdam’s Churches after 1578) won this year’s Verloren Publishers/Johan de Witt thesis prize for history.

“Impressive thesis”

The jury, led by Ineke Huysman, wrote in its report that Oldenhage, through her thesis, makes an important new contribution to the understanding of burials in churches after 1578. “The thesis convincingly demonstrates that paying attention to the culture of commemoration, as visible through the graves still present in various Amsterdam churches, can help create a purer picture of past events.”

Oldenhagen’s “fluent style” and research also receive compliments. “The scope of the sources used and the observations in the churches is impressive and shows a passion for the subject. The thesis is of great scholarly quality as evidenced by the high scores it received from the judges.”

Verloren Publishers/Johan de Witt thesis award

Every year, the Verloren Publishers/Johan de Witt thesis prize is awarded to the best Bachelor’s and/or Master’s thesis focusing on the Republic of the Netherlands in the seventeenth century. The aim is to stimulate historical research into this important era. The prize winner receives a cash prize of 1,500 euros, a book package, a one-year subscription to the weekly EW, and a one-year membership of the Friends of De Witt association.