Antia Wiersma

Antia Wiersma studied History at the University of Groningen (RuG), graduating with a thesis on the annotated scripts of two Radio Noord radio documentaries. These biographical portraits of two notable women from Groningen, i.e. Andrea Elkenbracht, a pianist and teacher, and Clara Asscher-Pinkhoff, a children’s book author and a prominent figure in the Jewish community of Groningen during the interwar period, were part of a larger series.

Following her studies, Antia worked in various roles, including at Teylers Museum, the Mauritshuis in The Hague, and Atria, a knowledge institute for emancipation and women’s history. She served as the manager of the Collections, Research and Advice department and as deputy director. Since 2017, she has been Director of the Office of the KNHG (the professional association of historians in the Netherlands). In this role, she organises webinars, meetings and conferences, including the biennial Historicidagen (History Days), and acts as publisher of the historical scientific journal BMGN-Low Countries Historical Review. She is also committed to promoting the interests of the profession and historians.

In 2025, she obtained her PhD in Groningen with a biographical thesis entitled ‘Hartstochtelijk, Partijloos Feministe’. Dr W. H. Posthumus-van der Goot (1897–1989) (Passionate, non-partisan feminist: Dr W. H. Posthumus-van der Goot (1897–1989), which was also published as an edition for the general public.

Photo: Monique Kooijmans.