Mathijssen, dr Brenda

Brenda Mathijssen is an associate professor at the Faculty Religion, Culture, and Society. She is Vice Dean and acting Director of Education. Mathijssen specializes in the geography and psychology of religion. Her research focuses on the significance of religion and meaning in everyday life, with a particular focus on the significance of death and rituals in society. ‘My interest is focused on how people give meaning to and in life. This includes major events like birth and death, for example, but also day-to-day life experiences like feeling at home somewhere or not at all, the sensation of being on the move, changes due to migration, and how we interact with the world around us.’

In her podcast De Podkist, Mathijssen speaks with various professionals working in the funeral industry. From coffin makers and ovenists, to cemetery administrators and funeral directors.

Previously in the news

• Those who really want to be sustainable after death go into a compost bin. But this is not allowed in the Netherlands (in Dutch)
• De Podkist: een kijkje in de keuken van de uitvaartbranche terwijl je daar zelf (nog) niet hoeft te zijn (in Dutch)
• Mathijssen bij Goeiedag Haandrikman radio, vanaf 1.15,47 (in Dutch)
• Dissolving, composting, cremating? Or maybe burying? This is what we choose (in Dutch)
• There are as many as 75 scientifical definitions of rituals. Is respectfully brewing coffee one of them?
• Brenda Mathijssen appointed new vice dean of faculty
• ‘Religion, Diversity, and Identity: exploring religion in the city yourself.’
• Sustainability after death: composting and dissolving as an alternative to the grave
• A bucket list and a deadline: modern people want to be in charge of their own death
• Long live the cemetery
• Campaign to encourage conversation about death: 'We don’t like to talk about the subject of mortality’
• Tales of the dead
• Dead silent: why we really don’t know what to say when it comes to death?
• Remembering loved ones on All Souls’ Day has long since ceased to be just for Catholics
• ‘Groningen residents prefer open coffins and traditional coffee at funerals’
• Coffee and cake are replaced by toast to life

Videos

• Campagne moet aanzetten tot gesprek over de dood: ‘We praten niet graag over sterfelijkheid’[Campaign to encourage conversation about death: ‘We don’t like to talk about the subject of mortality’]

• Brenda Mathijssen in TV programme ‘De Nachtzoen’

Contact and further information

• See the profile page

Publications