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Ronald Janse appointed as new dean of Maastricht University Faculty of Law

The Executive Board of Maastricht University is delighted to announce the appointment of Prof. Ronald Janse as dean of the Faculty of Law. The appointment will take effect on 1 March 2026. Janse will succeed Prof. Jan Smits, who has held the position of dean since 2017.

Rector Magnificus Pamela Habibovic on behalf of the Executive Board: “With the appointment of Ronald Janse, the Faculty of Law once again has a strong and inspiring dean. Janse brings a rich combination of academic expertise and organizational experience. His network and knowledge of the region are a valuable addition to the faculty's ambitious goals.”

About Ronald Janse

Prof. Ronald Janse (Rotterdam, 1966) completed his studies in history and philosophy (Erasmus University Rotterdam) and Dutch law (Open University) and obtained his PhD from Erasmus University on the legal philosophy of Thomas Hobbes. He worked at the law faculties of Erasmus University Rotterdam (1993-1998), Utrecht University (1998-2012), the University of Amsterdam (2012-2017), and the Open University (2017-present). Since 2020, he has been dean of the Faculty of Law at the Open University. Janse has published extensively on the rule of law and is co-founder and, since 2015, editor-in-chief of the Hague Journal on the Rule of Law.

Janse: “The Faculty of Law is a strong faculty with a unique profile: on the one hand, Dutch-language education and research that is of great significance for the development of Dutch legal practice and jurisprudence, and on the other hand, leading education and renowned research on European and international law and comparative law, which fits so beautifully with Maastricht University's identity as ‘the European university of the Netherlands’. It is an honour and a challenge to succeed Jan Smits as dean of this wonderful faculty. I look forward to working with the staff and students."

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