High Road to Culture in Flanders and the Netherlands

Publications

High Road to Culture in Flanders and the Netherlands

Article

Picturing Dutch Culture

The 'reality effect' peculiar to much Dutch painting has persuaded many viewers that this art registers how things are or how they were. But art historians have argued that things are not what they seem to the eye - they are devised with me...

Article

How European is Dutch Culture?

On 28 October 2004 a series of books entitled ‘Dutch Culture in a European Perspective'was launched at DeBuren, the Flemish-Netherlands House in Brussels. The books in this series are not only highly informative, they also make for thorough...

Article

Dutch-Speaking Culture in the United States

About two groups of Americans interested in the culture of the Low Countries: the ‘immigrants' in several Dutch and Flemish clubs, and the dozens of American academics who have chosen the history, culture and language of the Low Countries a...

Article

Middle Dutch Literature as a Mirror of European Culture

The literature of the Middle Ages is a truly European literature, probably much more so than the literature of today. Paradoxically, the main reason for this was the omnipresence of a language and a literature which were not a natural envir...

Article

Dutch Arts. An Introduction to Culture in the Netherlands

The Department of International Relations of the Ministry of Welfare, Health and Cultural Affairs in the Netherlands has published a series of booklets in English called 'Dutch Arts'. The aim of these publications is to give foreign readers...

Article

50 Years Erasmus Huis in Indonesia

The cultural centre of the Netherlands in the Indonesian capital Jakarta reflects a dynamic relationship between the two countries.

Article

When Japan’s Elite Spoke Dutch

Between 1600 and 1900, Dutch was the dominant European language in Japan. A new book examines how this affected the local culture and society.

Article

When Did New York Stop Speaking Dutch?

Despite the English conquest of the northeast coast of North America in 1664, the Dutch language continued to thrive in New York and northern New Jersey for generations, persisting into the twentieth century in certain areas.

Article

How the World Views Dutch and Dutch Speakers

If you’re not Dutch, you’re not much. Does that vision correspond with how other people view the inhabitants of the Low Countries and their language? Or is the picture more nuanced?

Series

Translating Quaco

How can we bring to the fore the names and stories of the marginalised of colonial exploitation? How can the stories of the Dutch colonial legacy find its way to an international audience? Henriette Louwerse and Duco van Oostrum at the Univ...

Article

A Standard Language Is a Dialect With an Army

Have you ever heard of “suburban Flemish” and “Polderdutch”? Editor-in-chief Luc Devoldere about the tension between dying dialects, weird "in-between-languages" and overpowering standard languages.

Series

The Cultural Attaché

In this series of interviews, DutchCulture asks cultural attachés holding office in the focus countries of the International Cultural Policy of the Netherlands about their experiences.

Article

Young Readers Need New Heroes

The heroes of recent Dutch-language books for children and young adults act in groups, differ from the norm and are no longer all white. That’s a win, according to Professor Yra van Dijk and Lecturer Marie-José Klaver.

Article

Eccentric, Venomous, Topical Wunderbaum Theatre

This Dutch theatre company has given us “location” theatre, eccentric, sharp and never far removed from commentary on subcultures. Now the great actors of this group are exploring new ways and seeking for a new public.

Article

A Calvinist Country?

For many people Calvinism is inextricably bound up with Dutch history and culture, and the commemoration of Calvin's five hundredth birthday in 2009 may well confirm that impression. Calvinism was an important feature in the Dutch landscape...

Column

The Low Countries Radio

The Low Countries Radio is a podcast series, celebrating Flemish and Dutch history and culture, and its impact on the world today. The Low Countries Radio is a collaboration between Republic of Amsterdam Radio and the low countries website.

Article

Here Comes the Dutch Literary Invasion

Starting this month, Dutch literature will present itself under the title 'New Dutch Writing' at more than 70 festivals and events in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Article

Solidarity Is the Highest Form of Culture

The Flemish government has proposed severe cuts in arts funding over the next few years. In 2011, the cultural sector in the Netherlands was forced to make do with a budget cut of about 200 million euro. What can the Flemish artists learn f...

Article

The Top 7 Language Stories of the Year

Join us in bidding goodbye to 2022 with seven of the finest language stories we published this year that are worth re-reading or listening to again.

Series

Our Colonial Legacy

What is today's relationship between the Low Countries and their colonial past? The articles in this series have been written by personalities from the Netherlands, Indonesia, Suriname, Belgium and Congo.

Article

The Battle of the Gravensteen

The only remaining medieval castle in Flanders with a virtually intact defence system faces a new threat.

Article

The Dutch Art of Uitwaaien

The Dutch are riding their bikes everywhere, always and in any weather. Even when they have to battle against gale-force winds.

Article

‘Das Magazin’ and the Literary Journal in the Low Countries

Anyone looking to write a history of the literary journal in Flanders and the Netherlands will undoubtedly discover that 2011 was a pivotal year. That was the year when the Dutch State Secretary for Culture scrapped all subsidies for liter...

Article

Time for Business: Dutch Studies in the UK

In 2019 the oldest Centre for Dutch Studies in the UK, housed at the University College London (UCL), celebrates its centenary. One may ask if there is much cause for celebration.

Article

Demolishing the Stereotypes

The distorted image that many Dutch people have of the overseas territories during the colonial occupation is often based on movies.

Article

Who Is in Charge of Language?

When it comes to Dutch, editor-in-chief Luc Devoldere states that it is not clear who determines which language norms to respect and which rules to adhere to.

Article

The Unexpected Popularity of Antoni van Leeuwenhoek

When the election for the greatest Dutch person of all time was held in 2004, Antoni van Leeuwenhoek came fourth after Pim Fortuyn, William of Orange and Willem Drees, but before Erasmus, Rembrandt and Vincent van Gogh. Van Leeuwenhoek's tr...

Article

Prometheus Unbound. Essays as an Orphic Counterforce

The books mentioned in this essay testify to mental resistance. The fact that they are there at all is nothing short of a miracle. They embody an ambition which runs counter to the cynical neo-Liberalism that has the world in its devastati...

Article

Why Thoughts are Free in the Netherlands

Due to the openness and the usually quick acceptance of various groups the Netherlands has been able to develop as a country in which modern ideas can flourish.

Article

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.

Article

David McKay’s Choice: Astrid Roemer and Raoul de Jong

A translator of Dutch into English gives literary tips by answering two questions: which translated book by a Flemish or Dutch author should everyone read? And, which book absolutely deserves an English translation?

Article

Anne van Winkelhof: Growl

This week's Friday Verses are written by Anne van Winkelhof. We translated her poem ‘Growl’.

Column

Hind Fraihi

Hind Fraihi is a journalist, columnist and author. In her monthly column, Fraihi writes on a thought-provoking topic in Flanders and the Netherlands.

Article

Irksome English

Why do the Dutch so readily turn to the English language? Cultural philosopher Ton Lemaire has long been bothered by the use of English words when there exists a perfectly good Dutch alternative.

Article

What Do the Dutch Want to Maintain?

In the last episode of the series ‘The DNA of the Netherlands’, we find out what the national motto ‘Je maintiendrai’ really stands for.

Article

The Malleable Rembrandt

Dutch art often appears in debates about identity, and this always happens in terms of what is 'own' and 'foreign' to it. Rembrandt in particular turns out to be very 'malleable'.

Article

Hamide Doğan: Original Sin

This week's Friday Verses are written by Turkish-born translator Hamide Doğan. We translated her poem ‘Original Sin’.

Article

Our Top Podcasts of the Year

Sit down, relax and listen to the podcasts we have published this year on the fascinating history of the Low Countries.

Article

The Colonial Debate in the Netherlands in Four Monuments

What did the Dutch know, through the ages, about what went on in their colonies, in the East and West Indies? Ewald Vanvught gives an outline of the current changing view of the colonial period in the Netherlands with reference to four monu...

Article

A Fleming Is a Belgian Who Speaks Dutch

When it comes to language, Belgium has a complex history. That is beautifully illustrated by the position of French-language literature written at the end of the 19th century by Flemings.

Article

Unnecessary Words Don’t Exist

An essay in which cultural philosopher Ton Lemaire was bothered by the adoption of English words into Dutch, inspired linguist Marten van der Meulen to respond.

Article

Our Top Society Stories of the Year

Join us in bidding goodbye to 2023 with some of the most surprising stories we have published this year on societal matters in Flanders and the Netherlands.

Article

Multilingualism Has Always Been Our Strength

'Translation in the Low Countries' is a monumental book that not only sheds light on the flourishing translation of culture in our region, but also offers a fascinating cultural history.

Article

The Dutch And Flemish Canon: Stuck Within National Frameworks

Comparing the Flemish Canon to the Canon of the Netherlands, historian Rolf Falter concludes that both canons are a collection of standalone stories, whereby contemporary political sensibilities and a quite nationalistic approach have influ...

Article

Jan Raes Dreams Polyphonic

In Amsterdam, the Flemish Jan Raes leads the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (RCO), now widely praised as one of the best orchestras in the world.

Article

Gidi Pols: .Monaco Dining.

Gidi Pols wrote a poem inspired by the financial story behind 'Portrait of Rogier Le Witer, Antwerp Merchant' by painter Jacob Jordaens.

Article

Swallows and Floating Horses

Lovers of Frisian literature and translation gathered at University College London for an evening of Frisian culture around the great new bilingual anthology Swallows and Floating Horses.

Article

#1 - 99% of Dutch History

Join us on our journey throughout the history of the Netherlands. We start in so-called "pre-history".

Article

The 'Black Pete' of W.B. Yeats

For some, he was a servant, for others a vanquished devil. However, the Irish poet W.B. Yeats sheds a different light on the origins of the controversial Black Pete tradition.

Article

How Much Colour Can The Flemish Art World Tolerate?

Superdiversity and interculturality have become inevitable facts. An articulate generation with diverse backgrounds is demanding its place. How is the debate conducted in the Flemish cultural sector, and in particular in the performing arts...

Article

Utrecht Is More Than the Birthplace of a Cute Rabbit

Utrecht is so much more than a pleasant day trip from Amsterdam. Discover its picturesque canals, lively pub culture, the world’s largest bike parking garage and a cute little rabbit that pops up everywhere in town.

Article

Voyage Around the World on Sandals

On the eve of the First World War, three Dutch friends believed they could make the world a better place by walking around the globe and propagating socialism in Esperanto.

Article

How Comic Book Author Barbara Stok Made Her Own Way

Autobiographical comics are her trademark, but even in a book about the classical philosopher Hipparchia, Barbara Stok arrives at a theme that also resonates in her other work: the need for a conscious and simple life.

Article

A Museum of Compromise

After five years of renovation and decolonisation, the AfricaMuseum in Tervuren opened again. Dutch writer of Congolese descent, Kiza Magendane visited the museum with mixed feelings.

Article

The Ambiguous View Of Sexuality In The Low Countries

Since 1945 The Netherlands and Belgium have often been frontrunners on the world stage when it comes to sexuality. But a certain sense of unease has always lingered and seems to be growing these days.

Article

Who Gave the Most Royal Corona Speech?

Many European rulers gave speeches during the corona crisis. How did they infuse their words with power? What meanings did Willem-Alexander’s concerned look and Filip’s stiff facial expression lend to their messages? And who gave the best s...

Article

Belgium Is Europe in Miniature

Belgium has an interim minority government to deal with the corona crisis. The emergency has exacerbated the division in the country. Will Belgium fall apart, or is it actually a laboratory for Europe?

Article

Hugo Grotius, Patriarch of International Law

He is best known as "the man who escaped from prison in a chest of books". But thanks to a new biography, we know that the seventeenth-century scholar was much more than that.

Article

Etty Hillesum: a Life Interrupted, a Spirit Unperturbed

The Amsterdam house where Jewish writer Etty Hillesum wrote her famous diary during WWII is in danger of being demolished. Philippe Noble, who translated her work into French, tells us why the writings she left behind are still as powerful ...

Article

Blood or Flowers: Boxing in the Visual Arts

There’s a never-ending list of filmmakers, writers and visual artists who have been, and indeed continue to be fascinated by boxing. In the Low Countries as well.

Article

Shortlist Prix de Rome Visual Arts 2019 Announced

The international jury of the Prix de Rome has selected four visual artists for the shortlist of the Prix de Rome 2019. The Prix de Rome is the oldest and most generous Dutch award for visual artists below the age of 40.

Article

Tourists, Go Home!

Tourism is increasingly becoming more of a curse than a blessing in Amsterdam, Bruges, Maastricht and numerous other places in the Low Countries.

Article

The St Matthew Passion Is About Us

Why our we still fascinated with a commemorative work like the St Matthew Passion that was written almost three hundred years ago?

Article

Humour in 2022: Battleground and Minefield

Humour is right there in the boxing ring of our society. So, there is much more to jokes and witticisms than just getting a laugh. But how does humour relate to power?

Article

How Animals Assumed Greater Importance

Despite rapidly losing touch with nature, we have also come to cherish animals in recent decades. That doesn’t come without legal, political and social consequences.

Article

Ode to Mechelen

On a trip to Mechelen, Derek Blyth discovers lost mediaeval rivers, Beethoven’s Flemish roots and the world’s oldest carillon school.

Article

A Literary Triumph: 'The Ascent' by Stefan Hertmans

In his novel about a Flemish Nazi collaborator, bestselling author Stefan Hertmans presents a sharp image of life under German occupation, which he links perceptively to the personal history of his characters.

Article

A Stranger on His Own Land

Right-wing extremism and Muslim extremism penetrate deeper into society, even into institutions. Meanwhile a much larger problem is overshadowed: inequality.

Article

Lieke van der Made Edits Reality

How can we make large, complex issues more manageable? Dutch artist Lieke van der Made discovered that by editing footage, her videos could achieve these ends.

Article

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.

Article

Kortrijk Earns It Spurs

Calling Kortrijk a hidden pearl along the river Lys might be too much honour. Yet there are numerous treasures to be found.

Article

A Sea Change in Ostend

On a visit to the Flemish coastal town of Ostend, Derek Blyth discovers grand architecture, a world-famous soul singer and the perfect shrimp croquette.

Article

The Leuven Is Easy

On a visit to the university town of Leuven, Derek Blyth discovers one of Europe’s smartest cities, some of Belgium’s best bars and a walk that takes you to the edge of time.

Article

From Clara to Bokito: The Wilderness in Our Zoos

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.

Article

#18 - To Boldly Go for Brabant

Philip the Bold set the tone for a dynasty that was going to contribute so much to the emergence of a lowland culture and identity.

Article

Don’t Worry, Be Hasselt

On a trip to the capital of the Belgian province of Limburg, Derek Blyth finds comforting food, innovative architecture and 25 places to be happy.

Article

Gear Up For Oudenaarde

Derek Blyth discovers a battlefield that shaped European history, a cafe dedicated to cycle racing and a tapestry with a secret message.

Article

Horsing Around in Vilvoorde

Derek Blyth discovers a monument to an English martyr, a traditional horsemeat restaurant and a waterfront that looks like Brooklyn.

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