Jan Dumolyn is full professor of medieval history at Ghent University (History Department), and the current chair of the Henri Pirenne Institute for Medieval Studies.
His research primarily concentrates on medieval Southern Low Countries, especially urban society and politics. He his a leading specialist on medieval Flanders and Bruges. Dumolyn propagates a multidisciplinary approach to the study of medieval cities and society, regularly working together with archaeologists, art historians, legal scholars, literary historians, historical geographers et cetera. Active research expertise and interests include:
- Urban history of the Southern Low Countries, with particular focus on Bruges and other Flemish cities
- Social and political structures of late medieval towns, including urban elites, and civic institutions
- Political discourses, ideology, and communication in medieval urban societies
- Popular politics, collective action, revolts, and relations between rulers and urban communities
- Urban public space, socio-professional groups, and the struggle for urban space.
- Economic and commercial practices in (late) medieval cities, including maritime and harbour infrastructure and landscapes
- Pre-industrial economic growth and its indicators
- Biographies and social networks of Northern Renaissance painters
Jan Dumolyn received several honorary (visiting) fellowships and academic awards, including, most recently, the Francqui Chair 2024-2025 at Université de Namur. He is also well known for his societal impact, e.g. as member of the committee of experts who drew up the " Canon of Flanders " and for his contribution to the TV series "Het verhaal van Vlaanderen". He was co-curator of major exhibitions, including "Van Eyck, an optical revolution" at Ghent's Museum of Fine Arts (MSK) in 2020, and “Bigger Picture – Connected Worlds of Bruges, 900 – 1550”, the opening exhibition at BRUSK Bruges (2026). He is an essayist on history and heritage topics for the main Flemish newspaper De Standaard.
