Dr. Freek Schmidt

Biography

Freek Schmidt is an architectural historian and professor of the history of architecture and the living environment at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. He is also an advisor in the field of spatial quality in Amsterdam and at MOOI Noord-Holland. Schmidt is closely involved in teaching the Master's program in Architectural History, which focuses on the history and relevance of the living environment. His recent book, "Passion Control. Dutch Architectural Culture Eighteenth Century" (Ashgate 2016), showcases his research interests. He regularly publishes on topics related to the built environment of the early modern and modern periods, with recent articles discussing eighteenth-century housing culture and twentieth-century urban planning in Amsterdam. From 2002 to 2008 and from 2012 to mid-2020, he served as editor of the Bulletin of the Royal Netherlands Institute of Cultural Heritage (KNOB). Currently, he is the editor of the book series "Landscape & Heritage Studies" at Amsterdam University Press. Schmidt’s research critically addresses the social, cultural, and historical dimensions of architecture, emphasizing its role as a cultural and social act. He is an active member of the European Architectural History Network and the Society of Architectural Historians and frequently presents his research at various conferences.

Research Interests