GRONINGEN - As of October 1, Valika Smeulders has been appointed as a special professor at the University of Groningen, where she will hold the newly created chair in "Museums, Heritage, and Religion." This position, part of the Faculty of Religion, Culture, and Society, is the result of a collaboration between the University of Groningen and the Rijksmuseum, where Smeulders currently serves as Head of the History Department. 

The focus of this chair is to bridge the knowledge of the Rijksmuseum's collection with broader heritage passed down through generations. Smeulders will play a pivotal role in academically exploring and presenting underrepresented parts of history, such as colonial history, the role of women, and the provenance of museum collections. 

Additionally, the chair aims to address new questions surrounding the representation of various social classes, the relationship between urban and regional areas, and the role of religion in shaping societal self-images. Smeulders' appointment is seen as a significant step in deepening the academic and museum discourse on these crucial topics.