Congres – Leven met Oorlog

On November 2nd and 3rd, 2023, SMH40-45, NIOD and Veldberaad are organising a conference for museum professionals, volunteers, researchers, students and other people interested in the innovative and contemporary museums approach of World War II history and other related phenomena.

This two-day event is designed to be an inspiring and open exchange of insights and experiences from museums and memory centers in the Netherlands and abroad, which focuses on presenting war, genocide and mass violence in recent and somewhat less recent history. To conclude the Dutch theme year “Living with War,” our joint intention is to let the museum field reflect on the present-day interpretation of museum roles, on the narratives, perspectives and artefacts that museums present and on their current and future meaning and impact in society. The program aims to contribute to further renewal, broadening and energising of war museums based on exchanging insights from practice and scholarship.

The first day will take place in Amsterdam on Thursday, November 2; the second day will subsequently take place in The Hague on Friday, November 3.

During the conference the focus will be on the following two key areas:

Day 1 – Amsterdam – Thursday, November 2

• Memories of violence: war, genocide and slavery and their relevance for today
• Museums and recent and current wars, mass violence and threats to human rights
• Closing of the theme year

Day 2 – The Hague – Friday, November 3 

• Impact for today. More than a museum
• International workshops on museums, education, and digital aspects, with an informal and collegial approach and the aim to develop plans for fostering international collaboration

We look forward to welcoming you to the “Living with War” conference.

Annette Schautt (SMH40-45)
Yvonne van Genugten (Indisch Herinneringscentrum)
Martijn Eickhoff (NIOD)
Kees Ribbens (NIOD)
Fokko Spoelstra (Veldberaad)

If you have any questions or require additional information, please feel free to contact us at secretariaat@smh40-45.nl. Click here for more information.

Register here!