Inger Leemans

Prof. Inger Leemans is a Full Professor of Cultural History at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, and PI of the NL-Lab at KNAW. Her research focuses on early modern cultural history, history of emotions/senses, cultural economy, and digital humanities. She coordinates projects like Odeuropa (olfactory heritage) and Affective Economies (stock market history). She holds leadership roles in organizations such as the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), Dutch National Research Council for Cultural Heritage (NOE), and the American Historical Review board. Her work bridges historical scholarship with digital innovation, emphasizing interdisciplinary methods like sensory mining and data visualization.

Research interests include digital humanities applications, olfactory heritage preservation, and the intersection of finance and cultural history. She has published extensively on topics ranging from Dutch Golden Age cultural infrastructure to the history of pornography and financial speculation. Awards and recognitions include membership in prestigious scholarly societies. Advising PhD students, supervising 6 theses, and leading international collaborative projects reflect her commitment to advancing historical methodologies and public engagement with heritage.