Cover Page
The handle
http://hdl.handle.net/1887/70038
holds various files of this Leiden University
dissertation.
Author: Dekkers, T.J.M.
Title: Mobility, control and technology in border areas : discretion and decision-making
in the information age
237 236
12. Acknowledgements
This dissertation would not have been possible without the help of certain people and organizations.
First I would like to thank my supervisors Joanne van der Leun and Maartje van der Woude. Writing a PhD is often described as a stressful process in which PhD candidates are left to fend for themselves. I consider myself lucky to have had you as my supervisors. I did not experience my PhD as particularly stressful or ever had a feeling of being lost and I have you to thank for that. You were always available for my many questions and were very supportive throughout the entire process. After our supervision meetings I always felt that I knew what to do and I was on the right track. For that you have my sincerest gratitude and I hope you will be able to do the same for future PhD candidates.
I would also like to thank the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee for enabling this research. Getting such an in-depth look at what is like to be a border patrol officer is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I am glad I was given that opportunity. The ride-alongs with RNLM officers were always fun and interesting and officers were very open to the many questions I had for them. The same openness of the organization was present during the interviews and focus groups, which made for great conversations and an understanding of border policing. Special thanks go out to Brenda Rooijackers who was a major help in organizing the fieldwork and the overall project.
Of course I cannot forget my coworkers at the Institute of Criminal Law & Criminology and the Institute of Security & Global Affairs of Leiden University. I learned a lot from all of you and had a great time working at Leiden University.
I would like to thank the Gratama Foundation, the Ministry of Justice & Security, the Leiden University Fund and the Meijers Institute of Leiden Law School for funding this research project.
Finally, I would like to thank the white cat who lived across the street of my office at the law faculty. Observing your daily activities and shenanigans really helped writing this dissertation.
