Machteld Venken

Machteld Venken is a Research Associate in the Department of History at the European University Institute (EUI) in Florence, Italy. Her work is centered on transnational and social histories of European borderlands, particularly focusing on welfare systems, childhood, and educational practices from the late 19th to the late 20th century.

Her research interests lie at the intersection of transnational history, social politics, and borderland studies, with a particular emphasis on marginalized groups such as children and veterans. She explores how cross-border cooperation, cultural exchange, and mixed economies of welfare operated in contested or fluid geopolitical zones, especially in Central and Western Europe. Her projects often employ comparative methodologies and hermeneutic analysis to uncover the lived experiences of individuals within broader institutional and political frameworks.

The recent publications highlight a thematic focus on child welfare, educational initiatives, and veteran support in border regions during the interwar and post-war periods. These works demonstrate a consistent engagement with questions of identity, mobility, and institutional cooperation across national divides. Her scholarship contributes to broader understandings of European integration, social citizenship, and the role of non-state actors in welfare provision.

She actively collaborates with other scholars, as seen in co-authored works, and is involved in the research project Social politics in European borderlands: a comparative and transnational study, 1870s–1990s. While no formal advising or grant information is available, her position suggests involvement in advanced research within a collaborative academic environment.

Her working languages include Dutch and French, reflecting her regional expertise. She is based at one of Europe’s leading institutions for advanced study in the social sciences and humanities.