history
Newcomers to the North
Our Colonial Legacy
Migration, the Other Way Around

The Story of the Erasmus Huis (1945-1960): The First Years of Postcolonial Indonesia
Indonesia’s independence in 1949 did not mark the end of Dutch influence. Many Dutch colonial structures remained in use.

The Story of the Erasmus Huis (1960-1971): The Great Diplomatic Turn
The 1960s saw important diplomatic shifts between the Netherlands and Indonesia, which laid the foundation for the current bilateral relationship, and the opening of the Erasmus Huis in 1970.
History of the Netherlands

The Story of Erasmus Huis (1970-present): Promoting Dutch Culture in the Heart of the Indonesian Capital
Throughout the past decades, the Erasmus Huis has strengthened its role as a centre for cultural diplomacy for the Netherlands in Indonesia.

#20 - Bonds Broken by Battle, Bite and Bridge
In the early 1400s, an English army with longbows, a mad dog and a treacherous bridge would once again make the future of the Low Countries uncertain.
Newcomers to the North

Harvest of the University Press (autumn/winter 2022-3)
Our selection of recent university press publications in English on the Low Countries.

Two Legs of the Same Compass: Freemasonry in Belgium and the Netherlands
While Freemasonry in the Netherlands mainly looks at the Anglo-American tradition, their Belgian Brothers and Sisters adhere to the French or ‘liberal’ tradition.
Our Colonial Legacy

United Nations Headquarters in New York to Stage Rijksmuseum’s Slavery Exhibition
The exhibition focuses on slavery in the Dutch colonial era, from the 17th to the 19th century – on three continents and in the Netherlands itself.

Coming Clean: New Postcolonial Light on Dutch East Indies Literature
‘Postcolonial Mirror’ and ‘New Colonial Reading List’ are two new important books on Dutch East Indies literature. Both editions aim at a complete revision of the existing image.
Migration, the Other Way Around

A Night of Disaster in the South-West Netherlands. 1 February 1953
A personal account of the 1953 North Sea flood that struck the Netherlands, north-west Belgium, England and Scotland.

Dikes, Dams and Ditches: How the Low Countries Learnt to Deal With Water
Discover how the Low Countries, after centuries of battling floods, have gradually learnt to treat water as an ally and a part of the cultural identity of its inhabitants.

The Top 7 History Stories of the Year
Join us in bidding goodbye to 2022 with seven of the finest history stories we published this year that are worth re-reading or listening to again.

Belgium Denounces Its Colonial Past, and the Netherlands Lags Behind
With the Congo Commission, Belgium took a different path from the Netherlands, which had its colonial past in Indonesia investigated by three institutes. What does this mean for dealing with a fraught history?

Groningen’s Lost City Gate
The people of Groningen would like one of their city gates to be handed back.

Flemish Female Spies Watching Maximilian’s Every Move
In late medieval Flanders, women played an influential role in wars. Not as soldiers on the battlefield, but as messengers or spies.

How a Blue-Collar Team Reached the Top. Feyenoord versus Sparta Rotterdam
The development of both Rotterdam teams is closely linked to the most important social evolution in football shortly after World War I.

Genk Mines Its Own Business
On a visit to the Flemish city of Genk, Derek Blyth discovers restored coal mines, cosmopolitan chickens and one of the world’s great love songs.

#19 - No One Messes Around With John the Fearless
John the Fearless, Duke of Burgundy, asserted himself as the dominant power broker in the Low Countries of the late 14th, early 15th century, showing the ever-restless towns what might happen to them should they rebel against his authority.

Deeds Not Words! Pioneers of Women’s Rights in Belgium and the Netherlands
Time to honour the women who have played a fundamental role in the development and progress of Low Country societies.

Antwerp Nottebohm Room Opens to the Public
Starting this autumn, you can discover the prestigious library for the first time on your own.

‘t Grom Promotes Healthy Food Through Horticultural Heritage
The museum in the heart of the vegetable region near Mechelen presents forgotten horticultural material and cultivation methods of yesteryear in an interactive way.