Royal Decoration awarded to Jakob de Haan

Professor Jakob de Haan has been appointed as Knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion. He received the Royal Decoration from Mayor Marco L.J. Out of the municipality of Assen.

Jakob de Haan (Delfzijl, 1960) is a professor of political economy at the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) of the University of Groningen (UG). He studied and earned his doctorate in Groningen and was appointed professor of monetary and political economy in 1994. During his doctoral research, he already focused on monetary policy and public debt, which formed the basis for his later influential contributions to education and policy issues. As a professor, he is engaged in research and teaching at the intersection of monetary and political economy.

Impressive academic body of work

De Haan has an impressive academic body of work. His publications on central bank communication and monetary policy have garnered international attention and influenced policy-making. He regularly appears as an expert in the media, in politics, and on policy-maker panels, and his work has a significant societal impact, both nationally and internationally. He is regarded as a respected and outstanding economist.

Enthusiastic instructor

As an instructor, De Haan is known for his enthusiasm and dedication. He has guided generations of students in subjects such as money and banking, macroeconomics, and central banks. The open culture he fostered in his classes encouraged students to engage with one another and learn from each other. To date, he has supervised 52 doctoral candidates, including Klaas Knot, who later became president of De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB).

Distinguished administrator

De Haan also played a significant role as an administrator. He served as the first director of the Graduate School of the SOM Research Institute (now the FEB Research Institute) and, in that capacity, oversaw the launch of the highly regarded research master’s program. In his administrative roles, he laid the foundation for the faculty’s strong academic reputation and was actively involved in various international collaborative projects.

Head of Research at DNB

Between 2009 and 2022, De Haan combined his professorship with his work as head of scientific research at DNB. He supervised some thirty research staff and gave impetus to research in the fields of payment systems, statistics, and supervision. He has had a lasting influence on DNB’s scientific research and contributed to DNB’s role and reputation as a knowledge institute.

Inspiring role model

De Haan is viewed by colleagues and students as an inspiring role model and a man who fosters connections. His calm, measured leadership style and persuasive communication style make him a valuable colleague. He is always willing to help others and has a decisive approach to guiding young researchers toward a brilliant career.