Education
He studied sociology at Utrecht University. He received his Doctor of Philosophy in 1982 for his dissertation on new religious movements and mental health.
He studied sociology at Utrecht University. He received his Doctor of Philosophy in 1982 for his dissertation on new religious movements and mental health.
He is also professor at Utrecht University. Schnabel grew up in Breda. Apart from his work for the SCP he has other appointments in several institutions in Dutch society such as the Netherlands Institute for Art History (RKD), and the Scientific Council for Government Policy.
He is a columnist to the Dutch newspapers National Research Council-Handelsblad and Het Financieele Dagblad.
As of 2008, he is also the chairperson of the committee that selected the 1,000 texts deemed as "key" of the Dutch and Flemish cultural history for the Digital library for Dutch literature. Since 2006 De Volkskrant lists him in their top ten of the most influential persons in the Netherlands.
Since 9 June 2015, he has been a member of the Senate on behalf of Democrats 66 (D66).