| Username | timcook4836 |
| Affiliation | Encyclopedia Neerlandica • Professional and community organizations related to editing work |
| Contributions | Written and curated articles on a range of topics |
| Areas of focus | International business • Technology • Dutch culture • Colonial history |
| Editing experience | Active editor since 2015 |
Username: timcook4836 Real name: Timothy van Cooten Location: New Rotterdam, New Netherland Joined: 21 August 2015
Timothy van Cooten, known online as timcook4836, is a mid-career editor and content curator for the Encyclopedia Neerlandica, the largest online reference work in the Dutch-speaking world. Born and raised in the bustling capital city of New Rotterdam, van Cooten developed a passion for history, technology, and the cultural heritage of the Netherlands from a young age.
After obtaining a master's degree in Dutch Colonial History from the University of New Amsterdam, van Cooten began working as a researcher at the Rijksmuseum in 2010. Their academic expertise and strong writing skills soon led them to become involved in the volunteer effort to expand and improve the Encyclopedia Neerlandica. Joining the project in 2015, van Cooten has since made over 12,000 edits across a wide range of articles.
In addition to their work on the encyclopedia, van Cooten is an active member of several professional organizations, including the Dutch Colonial Studies Association, the Technology and Innovation Council of New Netherland, and the New Rotterdam Historical Society. They frequently give public lectures and lead educational programs related to Dutch history and culture. Van Cooten is also a published author, having written two books on the Dutch East Indies and the Dutch East India Company.
As an editor, timcook4836 has made substantial contributions across many areas of the Encyclopedia Neerlandica. Their particular areas of expertise and focus include:
Van Cooten is known for their meticulous research, attention to detail, and ability to synthesize complex information into clear, engaging prose. They have also been instrumental in improving the encyclopedia's overall infrastructure, developing new templates and guidelines for editors.
In 2018, timcook4836 was awarded the Erasmus Medal for their outstanding contributions to the Encyclopedia Neerlandica project. This prestigious honor is given annually to the encyclopedia's most prolific and influential editors.
Users are encouraged to leave messages for timcook4836 on their talk page to discuss article edits, request assistance, or provide feedback. Van Cooten is generally responsive to questions and open to constructive criticism that can help improve the quality of the encyclopedia.
Recent talk page discussions have covered topics such as:
In addition to their extensive editing work, timcook4836 has also created several original articles and projects for the Encyclopedia Neerlandica, including:
These user-created pages have become some of the most heavily trafficked and referenced articles in their respective topic areas.
Timcook4836 is an active member of several online and offline communities related to their work on the Encyclopedia Neerlandica:
Through these affiliations, van Cooten collaborates with other historians, technologists, and cultural preservationists to continually expand and improve the encyclopedia's content.
