Netherlands
Backlash in Blackface
The blackface tradition of “Black Pete” has largely vanished from Dutch streets after a concerted campaign. But its remaining supporters increasingly see it as a right-wing cause.
Bewildered in Holland
Following Geert Wilders’ victory, fear has dissipated and given way to a reckoning – and somewhat uneasy affirmation – of what it means to be a Dutch Muslim and person of color in the Netherlands.
The Double-Edged Sword of Dutch Hit Drama ‘Mocro Maffia’
Admirers of the Dutch crime drama “Mocro Maffia” see it as brutally honest and ultimately informative. Its detractors insist it is a sensational take on a topic that should be handled with greater nuance, a wish-fulfilling fantasy exacerbating the societal problems it aims to address.
How Disgruntled Farmers Uprooted Dutch Politics
More than anything, the Farmer-Citizen Movement has the potential to seriously obstruct the country’s battle against climate change. Even if the party proves willing and able to engage in productive conversation with the political establishment, this won’t change the fact that — ultimately — you cannot fight global warming without also cutting down on agriculture.
Groningers Struggle as Dutch Gas Debate Flares Up
Residents in this unassuming, agricultural part of the Netherlands are in the political crosshairs of the biggest European crisis in decades. When Russia invaded Ukraine eight months ago, the Dutch government was already reducing gas from its Groningen gas fields. Now there are calls to reopen the taps to bring down gas prices and weaken Vladimir Putin.