The Dutch Diaspora Project

For centuries, the Dutch have traveled far and wide and settled all corners of the globe. Their influence is everywhere: in the language, music, cuisine, economy and politics of both local communities and nation states. In family names and traditions, in personal beliefs and philosophies. In life and in death. Traces of the Dutch diaspora are abundant, but not always evident. Many stories are left untold, or need to be retold and coupled with fresh insights. The Dutch Diaspora Project sets out to uncover this history and traces its influence on the modern-day world. Through extensive research in both the Netherlands and the Dutch diaspora, the project combines official documents, diaries, photos, and illustrations from historical archives with interviews, audio fragments, photos and videos featuring the present-day descendants of Dutch settlers. Consequently, the past is connected to the present and even the future − how do the actions of Dutch settlers of generations past inform the identity and destiny of their descendants, for generations to come?