Chiel van den Akker

Chiel van den Akker is an Associate Professor in Historical Theory/Philosophy of History at the Department of Art and Culture, History and Antiquities, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. He holds a PhD in Philosophy (2009) and a cum laude degree in History from Radboud University Nijmegen. He serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of the Philosophy of History and is part of the Master's team for Vakdidactiek Geschiedenis.

His research focuses on the philosophy of history, historical theory, and epistemology, exploring themes like historical value, narrative truth, and the relationship between history and ethics. Key works include The Exemplifying Past (2018), The Modern Idea of History (2020), and co-editing The Routledge Companion to Historical Theory (2022). His recent articles address topics such as historical antirealism, pragmatics of reading, and civic education in history.

He has been recognized with the Facultaire Onderwijsprijs (2016) and contributes to academic discussions through editorial roles and teaching courses on historical theory, philosophy of history, and contemporary historical thought.