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The Women Missing from Dutch and Indonesian Colonial History Lessons
30 March 2026
Who fought for Indonesian independence? If you were educated in either Indonesia or the Netherlands, you might picture Sukarno, Prince Diponegoro, or a parade of male generals and colonial administrators. You would be unlikely to picture Christina Martha Tiahahu, Maria Walanda Maramis, or Cut Nyak D
Is the restitution policy of colonial looted art a neo-colonial repeat of past actions?
16 January 2026
How are Belgium and the Netherlands dealing with the sensitive issue of returning looted art and researching its colonial origins? An exploration of some treacherous areas in the quagmire of new Dutch and Belgian restitution policies.
Colonial Looted Art: How Museums Are Reckoning with Their Past
14 January 2026
How are Belgium and the Netherlands dealing with the thorny issue of restituting looted art and investigating its colonial origins? What do museums reveal — and what remains overlooked? Two encounters offer a glimpse of the debate: one with public relations officer Nadia Nsayi at the AfricaMuseum
Bound, Freed, and Burdened: Mayken van Angola’s Journey to Liberation in Early Dutch America
16 December 2024
On 28 December 1662, Mayken van Angola, alongside Susanna and Lucretia, boldly petitioned for freedom in New Amsterdam. Their request was granted—but with a condition: they must clean Director-General Petrus Stuyvesant’s house weekly. Mayken’s story, rooted in the realities of enslavement and
‘Revolusi’ Corrects the Dutch Colonial Self-Image of Indonesia
5 September 2024
In Revolusi: Indonesia and the Birth of the Modern World, David van Reybrouck documents the Dutch colonial involvement in the world’s largest archipelago from the early seventeenth century until independence in late 1949. Using his literary talent, the author combines historical research and journ
Mass Murder On Manhattan: The Bloody Legacy Of Dutch Settlers
22 February 2024
Settler colonialism is not a story of friendly relations throughout. The confrontation with an unfamiliar other creates wariness and suspicion and often leads to violent outbursts in which non-combatants become innocent victims. The story of Manhattan in the seventeenth century was no exception, as
How Much Colour Can The Flemish Art World Tolerate?
1 February 2024
Superdiversity and interculturality have long ceased to be societal choices and become inevitable facts. Meanwhile, a particularly articulate generation has grown up with diverse, mainly North African, backgrounds. They are demanding their place and will no longer put up with others speaking on thei
From Clara to Bokito: The Wilderness in Our Zoos
30 June 2023
Every year, Dutch and Belgian zoos bring nearly fifteen million visitors face to face with exotic animals. Our fascination for and exploitation of wild animals has a long history that reveals major social changes: from prestige projects for medieval monarchs to experiences for the general public. Ra
The Story of Erasmus Huis (1970-present): Promoting Dutch Culture in the Heart of the Indonesian Capital
23 March 2023
In a series of three articles, we sketch the story of Erasmus Huis, the cultural centre of the Embassy of the Netherlands in Jakarta, in the context of cultural and diplomatic interactions between Indonesia and the Netherlands. This third and final article covers the development of the Erasmus Huis
The Story of the Erasmus Huis (1960-1971): The Great Diplomatic Turn
23 March 2023
In a series of three articles, we sketch the story of Erasmus Huis (Erasmus House), the cultural centre of the Embassy of the Netherlands in Jakarta, in the context of cultural and diplomatic interactions between Indonesia and the Netherlands. This second article covers the significant diplomatic sh
Belgium Denounces Its Colonial Past, and the Netherlands Lags Behind
12 December 2022
For decades the Netherlands has been wrestling with its colonial past in Indonesia. Now there is a research report that shows that the armed forces used extreme, structural violence during the Indonesian independence struggle of 1945-1949. Belgium has also researched its colonial history but has tak
