Dr Henriette Louwerse

I was born in the Netherlands in a village near The Hague and I studied English Language and Literature at the University of Groningen. As part of my postgraduate studies, I spent a year in the UK as a Harting Scholar at the University of Hull. That is when my interest in Dutch Studies was born and I received my PhD from that same university in 2007. My doctoral research focused on multiculturalism in contemporary Dutch literature in particular the works of Hafid Bouazza.

My research now concentrates on the narrative of the nation in particular in relation to colonial and multicultural issues. Our Sheffield Project Quaco is an example of integrated research and teaching approach. Together with  Duco van Oostrum I was awarded an AHRC networking grant for Beyond the National Narrative: Translating the Anglo-Dutch colonial legacy in restorative stories, the case of Suriname.

I genuinely enjoy teaching language and showing how language and culture are integrated. Together with colleagues and students we organise projects that matter: integrated language, culture and society event often through our Centre for Dutch and Flemish Studies. We also develop our ever-growing animated Dutch course Nu jij. 

I am the president of the International Society for Dutch Studies (Internationale Vereniging voor Neerlandistiek) and in that capacity I publish regularly on language policy and language attitudes.