The course has been designed especially for international exchange students, in order to familiarize them with Dutch society and culture as they find it during their stay in the Netherlands.
After completing the course, students are able to:
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explain aspects of Dutch society and culture in an academic context
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describe Dutch society and culture within in a global context, showing how the Netherlands was and is interconnected with the wider world, in past and present
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analyse Dutch narratives about their history as part of Dutch cultural memory.
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Country of tulips, windmills, bicycles, and canals, with friendly and open-minded people. There must be more to the Netherlands than is being suggested by such stereotypical images. This course proposes to explore peculiarities, intricacies and dynamics of Dutch culture and society in a global context.
The course is designed in two interconnected parts. The first part provides perspectives on contemporary Dutch society, discussing themes such as the constitutional monarchy, the political landscape, ethnic diversity, and policies of toleration. The second part presents historical dimensions to Dutch culture, including case studies from Dutch literature, architecture, and painting. With reference to the concept of ‘cultural memory’, narratives about the past featuring in today’s realities are explored.
Format
The course builds on to the handbook “Discovering the Dutch. On Culture and Society of the Netherlands” (Amsterdam University Press 2014). Some lectures are provided by guest speakers, mostly from among the authors of the book. Students prepare the relevant chapter(s) complemented by selected reading material. In class, the issues are further studied and discussed in a comparative approach. Instruction and assignments involve some out of class activities as well, such as an excursion or museum visit.
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