She contributed to the VUB’s Resistance Alley, which highlights the stories of WWII resistance members, and interned at VRT, where she helped produce a historical documentary on fertility treatments in Belgium.

Passionate about making historical research accessible to a wider audience, Leonie has already made her mark beyond academia.

For her master’s thesis at the VUB, Leonie investigated the often invisible and unpaid labour of women in the 19th and early 20th centuries, drawing on social surveys and autobiographies. In 2024, she contributed to the Mapping Female Politicians in Belgium and Brussels, 1948–1992 project.

Ultimately, the project aims to build a new framework for understanding opposition to female politicians across different historical and geographical contexts.

Her research, supervised by Nel de Mûelenaere (History) and Silvia Erzeel (Political Science), will take a prosopographical approach to uncover how Belgium’s first female MPs navigated political resistance—and the strategies they developed to counter it.

Click the following link to read the abstract: shoc.research.vub.be/en/shoc-semi...

📖 A must-read for anyone interested in medieval diplomacy, trade, and political networks!
brill.com/view/journal...

Following chivalric rituals, alum trade routes, and urban diplomatic exchanges in Bruges, Southampton and London, the piece challenges traditional core–periphery narratives and answers the recent call in historiography to provincialize New Diplomatic History.

'Rituals, Trade, and Brokers: Ferrante I and the Strategies of Anglo-Neapolitan Diplomacy' reconstructs a resilient diplomatic axis that places Naples during the reign of King Ferrante (1458-1494) at the heart of a polycentric network stretching from the Mediterranean to the North Sea.

Vicky passed with flying colours and can now proudly call herself Doctor in History! She was warmly supported on the day by family, friends, and (former) colleagues—making the celebration all the more special.

On Tuesday 21 October, Vicky Vanruysseveldt successfully defended her PhD, On the Road with Entertainment, under the supervision of SHOC member Anne Winter. Her research sheds light on the income strategies and mobility of itinerant entertainers in Brabant between 1750 and 1914.

Vicky passed with flying colours and can now proudly call herself Doctor in History! She was warmly supported on the day by family, friends, and (former) colleagues—making the celebration all the more special.

On Tuesday 21 October, Vicky Vanruysseveldt successfully defended her PhD, On the Road with Entertainment, under the supervision of SHOC member Anne Winter. Her research sheds light on the income strategies and mobility of itinerant entertainers in Brabant between 1750 and 1914.

More information about this event and tickets:
studiumgent.be/een-vergeten...

This event will be held completely in Dutch.

Image credits: www.instagram.com/palaulaurapa...

The lecture will be followed by a panel discussion with Douwe Haenen and moderator Anneleen Lemmens. In between, there will be an artistic intervention by Yousra Benfquih, who will deliver a letter about consent, coloniality and language.

www.hetscheepvaartmuseum.nl/.../bomen-ee....

Pierik, Bob. ‘Bomen en palen aan de kust van vroegmodern Amsterdam. De fluïde grens van de stad aan de hand van smokkelpraktijken’. Holland, Historisch Tijdschrift 57, nr. 3 (2025).

Bob wrote this article as Dr. Ernst Crone Fellow of the National Maritime Museum in Amsterdam. A shortened version of the article can therefore also be read here 👇

It appears in the special issue ‘Rafelranden van Amsterdam (2025-3)’ [Fringes of Amsterdam] which has just been released in honor of the 750th anniversary of the city of Amsterdam (available online).