80 years of NIOD

Please note: this meeting is already fully booked.

80 years of NIOD 

Just days after the German capitulation in 1945, the National Institute for War Documentation was established. Since then, the institute has played a vital role through its academic research and historical collections in keeping alive the memory of the years of occupation and the Holocaust, while also contributing to a critical historical analysis of these profound events. Over time, NIOD has broadened its scope to include genocides and other forms of mass violence both within and beyond Europe—particularly within colonial contexts—making these integral parts of the institute’s field of work. 

Shifting perspectives on war 
How do you document a war, and how do you write its history? How has the way the Netherlands reflects on the experiences of World War II evolved over time? In his lecture, Kees Ribbens explores how approaches to this and other 20th-century wars have developed since 1945. Using the history of NIOD and the historiography and public debates surrounding WWII, he analyzes how the Dutch confront their own wartime past and the war experiences of new Dutch citizens. What recent developments, both domestic and international, influence the way we remember and perceive war? 

Time and location 
– May 7, 2025, 10:00–11:30 AM, followed by coffee 
– The Trippenhuis, Kloveniersburgwal 29, Amsterdam 

Registration 
Registration is required for this event. You can sign up via this link. Please note: if you wish to attend with multiple people, each person must fill out a separate registration form.