Prof. Hans Engels professor by special appointment in Law of Decentral Authorities

Prof. Hans Engels has been appointed professor by special appointment in Law of Decentral Authorities at the Faculty of Law, via the Oppenheimleerstoel Foundation, as of 1 January 2014. Hans Engels (1951) studied Dutch Law and Public Law at the University of Groningen, where he also gained his PhD in 1987 with a study on ‘the minister without portfolio’. He is also Associate Professor of Constitutional Law at the Department of Constitutional Law and International Law of the University of Groningen.

From 17 December 2001 until 1 January 2014, Engels was professor by special appointment in Municipal Law/Municipality Science via the Thorbecke Chair at Leiden University. His inaugural lecture (2003) was entitled ‘Eigenstandig of Zelfstandig – de gekozen burgemeester in dualistisch en constitutioneel perspectief’ [Autonomous or independent – the elected mayor from dualistic and constitutional perspectives].

His teaching and research focus on national constitutional institutions (in particular government and parliament) and local and regional administration (in particular municipalities and provinces). In addition, Engels is chief editor of Jurisprudentie Gemeenten, a member of the editorial board of Bestuurswetenschappen and a member of the editorial council of De Gemeentestem.

He has held various additional positions within the University of Groningen, including member of the Faculty Council and the Committee for Academic Practice, faculty project leader for Duaal Leren, deputy chair of the Board of Appeal for Examinations, chair of the Board of Examiners and chair of the BSA Committee. He is currently chair of the Propaedeutic Committee.

Engels has also been very active outside the University. For example, he was deputy judge for the Assen, Groningen and Leeuwarden courts for a long time and held various additional positions in public administration (council member, part-time alderman, member of the Provincial States). He was also a member of the Commissie Evaluatie Dualisering Gemeenten (Committee for the evaluation of dualization of municipalities; ‘Leemhuis Committee’, 2004), vice chair of the VNG-commissie Grondwet en Gemeentewet (Association of Netherlands Municipalities committee on the constitution and the Municipalities Act; ‘Van Aartsen Committee’, 2008) and member of the Commissie Bestuurskracht Randstadprovincies (Committee on administrative powers of Randstad provinces; Hermans Committee, 2009).

Since 2004 he has been a member of the Dutch Senate on behalf of D66, where he is, among other positions, chair of the Senate committee for Domestic and General Affairs. In addition, he has been chair of the Commissie Rechtsbescherming Provincie Groningen [Province of Groningen committee for legal protection] since 2012.

This article was published by the Faculty of Law.

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