Kène Henkens

Professor Kène Henkens is a prominent Dutch sociologist and demographer specializing in retirement, ageing, and life course studies. He holds a Professorship of Sociology of Retirement at the University of Amsterdam and an Honorary Professorship of Ageing, Retirement & Life Course at the University Medical Centre Groningen (UMCG). He has served as Theme Leader at the Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI) in The Hague since 1998.

His educational background includes a doctoral degree in sociology from the University of Utrecht (1989), with a thesis focused on retirement decisions of older workers in the Netherlands.

Professor Henkens' research primarily centers on demographic transitions, ageing populations, and retirement systems, with particular emphasis on labor force participation dynamics and the interplay between institutions, employers, and households. His current research aims to incorporate life course agency theory into explanatory models. Throughout his career, he has devoted approximately 70% of his professional time to research.

His significant recognition includes:

• 2014 VICI laureate (most prestigious Dutch senior researcher grant)
• 2005 VIDI laureate (prestigious mid-career researcher grant)
• Membership in the Academy of Europe since 2016
• Netherlands Institute of Advanced Studies Fellowship

Professor Henkens is frequently consulted by pension organizations and labor market institutions as an expert advisor. His work bridges academic research with practical policy applications in retirement systems and aging populations.

At NIDI, he leads the social demography research theme and has held progressive positions since 1989, from researcher to labor market research coordinator, and currently as Theme Leader overseeing all social demography research at the institute.