In Memoriam – Peter Nissen (1957–2026)

On Saturday, 6 February, Professor Dr. Peter Nissen passed away at the age of 68 following a cerebral infarction. He will be remembered as a passionate scholar, a gifted communicator and a significant contributor to the work of NOSTER.

Peter Nissen, Professor at Radboud University, Nijmegen, served as Chair of the NOSTER Executive Board from 2009 to 2015, leading its meetings with warmth, wisdom, and professionalism, and working closely with the academic director. During this period, he also co-supervised the NOSTER PhD Seminar Historical Research in Theology and Religious Studies, mentoring, advising, and inspiring a new generation of scholars.

Another major contribution was his participation in the Royal Dutch Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) Exploratory Committee on Theology and Religious Studies. The committee’s findings were published in the 2015 report Klaar om te wenden…: de academische bestudering van religie in Nederland: een verkenning (Ready to Turn: An Exploration of the Academic Study of Religion in the Netherlands).

Nissen was a prolific author, publishing dozens of books and articles on a wide range of topics in church history, spirituality, and ecumenical studies for both academic and general audiences. He was also a frequent commentator on religion in national media, particularly on Catholicism and the Vatican.

We extend our sincerest condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues.

Read other obituaries (in Dutch) at the websites of KRO-NCRV, NOS and Nederlands Dagblad.