Peer Smets

Peer Smets is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, affiliated with the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities. His work focuses on urban sociology, emphasizing societal problems and policy solutions. He co-leads the Identities, Diversity, and Inclusion (IDI) research group and coordinates the Community Service Learning (CSL) program, linking academic skills with societal impact.

Education: PhD in Cultural and Social Anthropology (VU Faculties, 2002), Master in Cultural Anthropology and Development (Vrije Universiteit, 1992). Research interests include housing finance, neighborhood livability, public space, and urban commons. Notable contributions include co-editing volumes on housing stigma, urban renewal, and contested belonging.

Grants include funding from the Dutch Ministry of Internal Affairs, World Bank, and projects on storytelling with vulnerable populations. Awards: Sociologist of the Month (July 2020, Current Sociology) and nominee for the Innovation Price for Community Service Learning.

Teaching involves qualitative methods at the bachelor level and courses on societal participation at the master level. He supervises theses on participation, housing, and community development. Ancillary activities include editorial roles for Social Inclusion and membership in the International Sociological Association.

Key projects include the Nextdoor neighborhood study, evaluating refugee volunteering, and urban commons collaborations in Amsterdam East. Media engagements highlight his expertise on neighborhood evaluations, mental health, and urban policy.