Valika Smeulders

Valika Smeulders is an accomplished professional in the fields of museums, heritage, and history, currently serving as the Head of the History Department at Rijksmuseum since September 2017, as well as the Endowed Professor for Museums, Heritage & Religion at the University of Groningen starting in September 2024. Smeulders holds advisory positions with the Vereniging Rembrandt and the Comité Koninkrijksrelaties and previously served on several committees, including the UNESCO Memory of the World of the Netherlands. Smeulders has a strong academic background, having earned a PhD in Heritage Studies from Erasmus University Rotterdam and an MA in Latin America Management from Leiden University. A freelance researcher, editor, and lecturer, Smeulders contributes significantly to discussions around cultural heritage and history.