Sebastiaan Aarts

Sebastiaan Aarts is a historian specializing in medieval history and castle studies, affiliated with the Faculty of Arts and Philosophy at Katholieke Universiteit Nijmegen. He holds a PhD in Modern History from the same institution under supervision of Dr. P.C. de Brouwer. His research focuses on motte castles, medieval archaeology, and regional studies in the Duchy of Brabant.
Currently serves as President of Vereniging Vrienden van Brabantse Kastelen, acting President of Stichting Kastelenstudies Nederland, and member of the Dutch Castle Studies Group. His work combines historical analysis with archaeological insights to explore fortification patterns, symbolic meanings, and socio-political dynamics in medieval Europe.

Key research areas include:

• Motte castle development in Frisia and Zealand
• Castle architecture along the Dommel River
• Socio-cultural symbolism of polygonal towers
• Comparative studies of Low Countries fortifications

Recent publications analyze medieval military topography, regional castle networks, and the interplay between church institutions and noble power structures. His work bridges archaeology and history to reconstruct medieval territorial organization.