Personal profile
Personal profile
Anja Machielse is professor emeritus of Humanism and Social Resilience and endowed professor Social Resilience of Older Adults. She studied philosophy at the University of Amsterdam and the Erasmus University Rotterdam and received her Ph.D. at Utrecht University.
Her work focuses on the social embeddedness of human beings and the significance of social relationships, both for personal life and the wider community. The tension between individual autonomy and the demands of the social environment is central to this. Important themes in her work are social isolation and loneliness, social resilience, existential problems, and meaning in life. Her research into older adults emphasizes (social) resilience, meaning in life, and promoting social recognition.
Education/Academic qualification
PhD, Utrecht University
Award Date: 16 Jan 2006
Master, Wijsbegeerte, Erasmus University Rotterdam
Award Date: 1 Sept 1998
External positions
Supervisory board member, Nationaal Ouderenfonds
1 Dec 2024 → …
Member of Programme Committee Day Activities for People with Dementia & Reablement, ZonMw
2023 → 1 Jan 2026
Board member Socrates foundation, Humanistisch Verbond
2022 → …
Member of nomination committee Humanistic Spiritual Counsellors, Humanistisch Verbond
1 Oct 2020 → 1 Oct 2025
Member of Social Trials Monitoring Committee, ZonMw
2020 → 1 Jan 2026
Supervisory board member, Avoord
2018 → 1 Jan 2026
Wetenschappelijke Adviescommissie "Een tegen Eenzaamheid" , The Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport
2018 → …
Loneliness policy advisor, Gemeente Rotterdam
2015 → …
Keywords
- loneliness
- social isolation
- social resilience
- existential problems
- meaning in life
Research themes
- Care, welfare and flourishing
- Life course, loss and grief
Fingerprint
- 1 Similar Profiles
Projects
- 10 Finished
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Resilience around severe experiences of loss in daily life. Phenomenological practice-oriented research.
Machielse, A. (Principal Investigator), Beeris, C. (Researcher) & Niemeijer, A. R. (Researcher)
ZonMW - Innovatie. Preventie in Transitie.
1/01/23 → 31/12/25
Project: Research
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Onderzoek naar project Maatschappelijke Diensttijd
Machielse, A. (Principal Investigator), van der Vaart, W. (Researcher) & Hendrick, L. (Researcher)
1/09/22 → 31/05/23
Project: Research
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Factorenmodel sociale relaties
Machielse, A. (Principal Investigator) & Glasner, T. J. (Researcher)
Gemeente Rotterdam - Maatschappelijke Ontwikkeling
1/09/21 → 30/11/21
Project: Research
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Zin in Bellen - Telefonische groepsgesprekken voor ouderen
Machielse, A. (Principal Investigator) & van der Vaart, W. (Principal Investigator)
Centrum voor Levensvragen Rotterdam e.o.
1/09/21 → 1/01/23
Project: Research
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SEE ME: Social inclusion through Meaningful ageing
Machielse, A. (Principal Investigator) & van der Vaart, W. (Researcher)
1/01/21 → 31/12/22
Project: Other
File
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Waarom is eenzaamheid taboe?
Machielse, J. E. M., Jan 2026, In: Filosofie Magazine.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Popular
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De kracht van eenzaamheid: Hoe eenzaamheid ons uitdaagt en in beweging zet
Machielse, J. E. M., 16 Sept 2025, Kalmthout: Pelckmans. 215 p.Research output: Book/Report › Book › Popular
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Eenzaamheidsbeleid: Advies Wetenschappelijke adviescommissie aan de staatssecretaris Langdurige en Maatschappelijke Zorg
Smid, H., van Campen, C., Fokkema, T., Kwekkeboom, R., Machielse, J. E. M., Schoenmakers, E., Tilburg, V. T. G., Verhagen, M., de Neeling, N., Mateman, H. (Other) & van Ark, M. (Other), 1 Apr 2025Research output: Online publication or non-textual form › Web publication › Professional
Open Access -
"I Chose to Put my Ego in the Closet for a while, but Struggled to Find It Again”: Backstage Reflections on Participatory Action Research and Resilience
Beeris, C., Niemeijer, A. R. & Machielse, J. E. M., 10 Oct 2025, In: International Journal of Qualitative Methods. 24Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
Open Access -
Rotterdamse jongeren in beeld: Profielschetsen als inspiratiebron voor begeleiding bij eenzaamheid
Machielse, J. E. M., van der Ploeg, R., Vos, S. & Muller, L., 18 Nov 2025, 27 p. RotterdamResearch output: Other contribution › Education/training material or manual › Professional
Open AccessFile1 Downloads (Pure)
Datasets
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Nurse’s attunement to patient’s meaning in life - a qualitative study of experiences of Dutch adults ageing in place
Hupkens, S. (Creator), Goumans, M. (Creator), Derkx, P. H. J. M. (Creator) & Machielse, A. (Creator), figshare, 18 May 2020
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.c.4983320.v1, https://springernature.figshare.com/collections/Nurse_s_attunement_to_patient_s_meaning_in_life_-_a_qualitative_study_of_experiences_of_Dutch_adults_ageing_in_place/4983320/1
Dataset
Prizes
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25 Invloedrijke denkers en doeners in het sociaal domein
Machielse, A. (Recipient), 2 Oct 2023
Prize: Honorary award
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Sociale weerbaarheid van ouderen (Leyden Academy of Vitality & Ageing)
Machielse, A. (Invited speaker)
13 Feb 2026Activity: Talk or presentation › Guest Lecture
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"De kracht van eenzaamheid" - Filosofisch diner
Machielse, A. (Keynote speaker)
21 Jan 2026Activity: Talk or presentation › Oral presentation
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"De kracht van eenzaamheid" - Webinar
Machielse, A. (Invited speaker)
15 Jan 2026Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
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Masterclass "De kracht van eenzaamheid" (Vrijwilligersacademie)
Machielse, A. (Keynote speaker)
11 Dec 2025Activity: Talk or presentation › Oral presentation
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"De kracht van eenzaamheid"- Boekpresentatie Wereldmuseum, Rotterdam
Machielse, A. (Keynote speaker)
20 Nov 2025Activity: Talk or presentation › Research Presentation
Press/Media
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Podcast-serie: "Gaat wel goed, toch?" Aflevering 5: Eenzaamheid
9/02/26
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Podcast appearance
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Anja Machielse: 'Eenzaamheid gaat niet alleen over pijn, het biedt ook kansen'. (Interview in Zorg + Welzijn)
26/01/26
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Interview or expert commentary
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Eenzaam? Het kan ook een KRACHT zijn (Interview in Libelle)
15/01/26
2 items of Media coverage
Press/Media: Interview or expert commentary
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Eenzaamheid is volgens filosofe Anja Machielse heel gewoon (Interview in Trouw)
8/01/26
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Interview or expert commentary
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Is het de taak van de overheid eenzaamheid te bestrijden? (Interview in Financieel Dagblad)
7/01/26
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Interview or expert commentary