Discovering the Dutch

Relationship between assessment and learning goals:
 

a. Midterm written exam (30%) - linked primarily to course goals 1 and 3.

b. Final written exam (30%) - linked to all three course goals 1, 2 and 3.

c. Portfolio (30%), consisting of three written contributions - linked primarily to course goals 1 and 3.

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 provides various perspectives on contemporary Dutch society and culture, discussing themes such as national identity, toleration, ethnic diversity, and the echo's of two world wars in the previous century. Each of these themes is presented within a historical dimension and includes case studies from Dutch literature, architecture, film, or painting. With reference to the concept of ‘cultural memory’, narratives about the past featuring in today’s realities will be 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.