Welcome to the September Newsletter 2026
We kick off the academic year with the September newsletter.
You are all invited to Esther Captain’s inaugural lecture!
Date: 14 October at 16:15 Location: Auditorium (Aula) Academiegebouw, Domplein 29 Utrecht.
On Wednesday, October 14th, Dr Esther Captain will give her inaugural lecture, titled: Ruptures and Links. Crossing generations and oceans in the history of slavery and colonialism.
If you are planning to attend, please register here. If you are unable to attend in person, watch it via the livestream.
Upcoming Events
NWA Route Levend Verleden Network meeting 2026
Date: 29 September 2026 Location: Museum Speelklok, Utrecht
The aim of the Route Living Past is to connect researchers, practitioners and citizens in the broadest sense of the word, from different backgrounds, who work on the workings of the past in the present and towards the future. With this broad and diverse field, they aim to continuously co-create a meaningful and inspiring research agenda. This network meeting is a great opportunity to meet one another, be updated on ongoing projects, and contribute ideas about the direction of the route.
More information about the event can be found here. When you plan on attending, please register.
SAVE THE DATE: Book Launch “Surinamese Anticolonial Thought in the Twentieth Century” x Album Release “Antiyano Progresivo”
Date: 27 November 2026 16:00-19:00 Location: Johanna Hudiggebouw – 1.27, Utrecht University
Join us for a full evening programme for Debby Esmeé de Vlugt and Peter Meel’s book launch entitled “Surinamese Anticolonial Thought in the Twentieth Century,” and the album release party of “Antiyano Progresivo” and album by Rozaly, Soundway Records & Jumanne.
About the book: Surinamese Anticolonial Thought in the Twentieth Century offers a compelling introduction to the history of anticolonial resistance in Suriname and its diaspora. Covering the lives and ideas of seventeen influential Surinamese thinkers, this book explores how the histories, legacies, and afterlives of Dutch colonial rule were questioned, contested, and reimagined in the decades surrounding independence.
About the album: Between the late 1960s and the mid-1980s, an informal community of musicians across the Dutch Caribbean islands of Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten created music that crossed stylistic boundaries. For nearly three decades, they shared stages and ideas across islands, forming a close-knit network shaped by common histories and identities, while rarely receiving wider recognition. Their recordings were released locally, often in small runs, and many were never properly archived. As a result, much of this music, and the stories it carries, faded from view. Antiyano Progresivo is dedicated to these artists, many of whom were well known locally, but whose more unconventional music remained largely unheard.
Compiled by: MATHIJS REINEN (ROZALY)
& THOMAS GESTHUIZEN (JUMANNE)
21st Islands of the World Conference
Date: 6-10 June 2027 Location: Curaçao, Dutch Caribbean
Navigating Challenges, Building Global Resilience: Island Solutions
Join researchers, policymakers, practitioners and island communities from around the world to explore innovative island solutions for today’s global challenges.
More information about the conference.
Project Reminders
Final Consortium Meeting: Call for Papers
During the final consortium meeting next May, we hope to welcome a diverse group of researchers to share their knowledge and ongoing work. With the new academic year starting, we would like to reach as many researchers as possible to invite them to submit their research for our final consortium meeting. We would therefore like to encourage everyone to circulate the call for papers to their network! Please feel free to distribute the call on your LinkedIn, other social media accounts and newsletters.
Request for Internships Possibilities
Cultural History Master’s students at Utrecht University are seeking internship opportunities within our research project. Are you part of one of the many cultural institutions within the project, and do you have internship opportunities for 3 to 6 months starting January 2027? We would love to hear from you so we can look into placing one of the students within your organisation. Please let us know by emailing Rachel Gillett (r.a.gillett@uu.nl) or Isabella Hall Allen (i.w.a.hallalllen@uu.nl)
Project workspace
Every Tuesday, Work Package 1 will meet in Utrecht at the Drift as our project day. You are all welcome to join – we can even provide lunch!
If you wish to join please notify Isabella beforehand so she can give you the exact room number.
Farewell Jonathan Tjien Fooh
After three inspiring years with Re/Presenting Europe, Jonathan Tjien Fouh will leave the Athena Institute at the end of August.
From October, Jonathan will start a PhD at Radboud University as part of the NWO-funded Traumascapes project, supervised by Liedeke Plate and Esther Captain.
We thank Jonathan for his valuable contributions to Re/Presenting Europe and wish him all the best for this exciting next chapter. We look forward to staying connected!
Jonathan can be reached at j.tjienfooh@gmail.com.
