Mathieu Segers, professor and expert on Europe, has died at the age of 47, Maastricht University has confirmed. He held the position of professor of Contemporary European History and European Integration at the university.
Segers was known for his columns in Het Financieele Dagblad and De Groene Amsterdammer, among others. With his expertise he was a much sought-after guest in radio and television programs, according to 1Limburg. In addition to his media work, he made podcasts and wrote books.
In his podcast Café Europa he discussed, among other things, the consequences of the war in Ukraine for Europe, including the issue of gas extraction in Groningen.
Segers, father of three children, had been suffering from illness for some time. He was diagnosed with colon cancer in the fall of 2020. The diagnosis was made after he went to the doctor for a corona test, after which an ultrasound revealed the disease, as previously reported by De Limburger.
The professor spoke openly about his illness. In a VPRO radio program two years ago, Segers called the time after the diagnosis “time gained”. He emphasized that taking time in our society is difficult, but since his diagnosis he has lived more consciously. “That has a special effect. More seems to happen in an hour or in a day than before. While the opposite is the case. The lack of obligation is everywhere,” he said.
