Memory of the CZ-NL Connections

In cooperation with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Post Bellum / Memory of Nations records in-depth oral history interviews with members of the Czechoslovak diaspora whose lives illustrate how closely intertwined our countries have become since the 20th century. These witnesses are living links between Prague, Bratislava and Dutch cities such as The Hague, Rotterdam or Amsterdam – people who contributed to Dutch cultural, intellectual and civic life while maintaining strong ties to their country of origin and, after 1989, actively helping to renew democracy and bilateral cooperation. The events of 1948 and 1968 triggered two major waves of Czechoslovak emigration to the West. In the Netherlands, many of these refugees became respected personalities in culture, academia, architecture, media and civic life, and later important partners for Dutch–Czech cooperation after the fall of communism. Today, the generation of 1968 is reaching old age. There is a limited window of time to record their memories and to anchor these shared Czech–Dutch experiences in the public consciousness of both countries. These life stories show how Czech and Dutch histories intersect in very concrete ways: through exile and return, cultural exchange, professional achievement and civic engagement. They illustrate how people who left Czechoslovakia in times of oppression became active citizens of the Netherlands, while continuing to engage with their homeland and, after 1989, often helping to rebuild democratic institutions and renew bilateral cooperation. Their trajectories connect universities, theatres, churches, media and civil society organisations across both countries and demonstrate how individual biographies can embody shared European values such as freedom, solidarity and respect for human rights. By supporting this project, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands helps preserving a unique chapter of our shared history and present it to audiences in both the Netherlands and Czechia as a positive example of European solidarity, integration and long-term partnership. Van harte bedankt!

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