Jan Woltjer (1849–1917) was a Dutch classical scholar, educator, philosopher, and professor who was involved at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU) from 1881 until his death.
He was born on 4 February 1849, in Groningen, Netherlands. He began studies at the University of Groningen in 1871 and earned his doctorate in 1877 with a dissertation on the Roman poet Lucretius. Also in 1877, he married Marchien Janssonius.
In 1881 he was appointed professor of classical languages and literature at the newly established VU. There he taught Latin, Greek, pedagogy, and philosophy. He served as rector magnificus five times and was the doctoral supervisor of D. H. Th. Vollenhoven.
Woltjer co-founded and led the Gereformeerd Gymnasium in Amsterdam, serving as its rector and board chairman. He also chaired a state commission on educational reform. He was elected to the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1902. And from 1902 to 1917, he represented the Anti-Revolutionary Party (ARP) in the Dutch Senate, focusing on education policy.
He died on 27 July 1917, in Amsterdam.
allofliferedeemed 