Astrid Theerens M.A.

I am a doctoral researcher at Trier University specialising in Early Modern History (Regional Studies). My dissertation examines how the French Revolution and subsequent French rule reshaped the wine economy and social networks in the Trier region (c. 1789–1815).

Focusing on property relations, secularisation, fiscal reforms, and the reorganisation of local power structures, my research combines extensive archival work with digital methods such as network analysis and spatial mapping to uncover patterns of economic, social, and political transformation.

Research Interests:

• Early Modern History
• Digital Humanities (spatial mapping, data analysis)
• Social and Cultural History / History of Emotions / History of Crime
• Archival Research and Digitisation

Professional Experience

• Research Associate / PhD Candidate – Historical Regional Studies
  (Since 12/2024, Trier, Germany - 50%)
  • As a research associate, my tasks included conducting archival research and supporting digitisation efforts. I contributed to teaching and assisted in the day-to-day operations of the Historical Regional Studies research group. A particular focus was on interdisciplinary collaboration, linking historical research with Digital Humanities methods to analyse and visualise patterns in early modern wine trade.
  • Courses Taught:
    • Summer Semester 2025: Proseminar: Proseminar: Urban Rule and Urban Freedom in the Early Modern Period – German and European Perspectives (Part B), jointly with Stephan Laux
    • Summer Semester 2026: Proseminar: Order and Disorder in the Early Modern Period: Conflict, Control, and Change in Europe (1500–1800)
      • Tuesdays: 8:30–10:00 - Room: A6

      • Thursdays: 14:30–16:00 - Room: A6

         

• Project Staff Member – GloVib Project (Externally Funded Project)
  (Since 08/2025, Trier, Germany - 25%)
  In the interdisciplinary research project “Global Interconnections and Racial Categorizations” (GloVib), I support the organizational and strategic implementation of the project. My focus is on coordinating academic events, in particular the international conference “Deprovincializing German Racism” (Berlin 2026).

   

• Strategic Consultant for 3D Digitisation
  (11/2024 - 04/2025, Luxembourg)
  In this role, I supported the Ministry of Culture in developing a national strategy for 3D digitisation of cultural heritage. I collaborated with cultural institutions, experts, and private partners to promote best practices and address cross-sector challenges.

• Project Manager for the Digitisation of Historical Newspapers
  (08/2021 – 12/2023, Belgium)
  I led the GIVE digitisation project, which involved the digitisation and archiving of 630,000 pages of historical newspapers from eight Flemish archives and libraries. My responsibilities included overseeing project scope, procurement processes, and quality control.

• Junior Researcher in the Early Modern Research Group, KU Leuven
  (09/2020 – 01/2021, Belgium)
  During my internship, I contributed to the research project Infrastructure of Globalisation, focusing on the Southern Netherlands as a translation hub within the Spanish-Portuguese monarchy. I also supported the master’s seminar in Early Modern History.

• President of the Leiden Orientation Days
  (10/2019 – 06/2020, Netherlands)
  As president of the orientation days for international students, I organised events to help new students integrate. I served as the main point of contact, coordinated communication with faculties, planned activities, and fostered student interaction.

• Research Trainee at Leiden University
  (02/2019 – 10/2019, Netherlands)
  I supported the research project Leiden’s Pubscape, which investigated the impact of historical alcohol laws. My tasks included transcribing archival sources and conducting GIS-based spatial analysis of alcohol trade in the 19th century.

Publications:

• Schmidt, A., Oosten, R.M.R., Theerens, A.C.A., Vellinga, H.J. en Ponsen, A., 2019: ‘Dataset Leiden’s pubscape, 1820–1894. Towards a better understanding of drink and labour’. DANS-EASY DOI: 10.17026/dans-z4q-8c2v.
• Theerens, A.C.A., 2019: ‘B(e)rekende liefde: Diplomatieke strategie van genegenheid door Filips II, Catharina de’ Medici en Elizabeth I’, Leidschrift historisch tijdschrift, 35–51.
• Schmidt, A., Oosten, R.M.R., Theerens, A.C.A., 2021: ‘To be led astray?: the effects of the 1881 Liquor Act on the Leiden Alcohol Trade’, TSEG: tijdschrift voor economische en sociale geschiedenis 19(3), 5–36.