News item | 11-03-2025 | 10:38
Prof.dr. Wouter Veenendaal, special professor of Kingdom Relations and Association Lecturer Comparative Political Science at Leiden University, held his inaugural lecture on Monday 10 March. Veenendaal gave this inaugural speech as holder of the Democratic representation in the Kingdom. This chair was established last year by the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations.
Research agenda
During his inaugural lecture, ‘On the basis of equivalence?’ Veenendaal went deeper into the various parts of his research agenda as a chair holder. Veenendaal has set 2 goals for the chair: guaranteeing and expanding research into the Kingdom and Kingdom Relations, and promoting cooperation and education with universities and scientists in the Caribbean Islands. To shape the last goal, Veenendaal is busy recruiting 3 local research assistants in Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten. In the coming years, they will conduct research together with him as a kingdom-wide research team.
4 research lines
During his inaugural lecture, Veenendaal explained the 4 research lines of his chair, which he hopes to expand in the coming years. These are: politics and democracy on the Caribbean islands in the Kingdom itself; Democratic representation of the Caribbean Islands in the Kingdom; the experience of the Kingdom Relations in the European Netherlands; And comparative research into other non-sovereign areas.
Opinion investigation
During his speech, Veenendaal also announced the first results of an opinion investigation that he had carried out among European Dutch people in the run -up to his inaugural lecture. The research was conducted under the renowned Liss Panel of Tilburg University. About 2,700 people participated in this study and answered various knowledge and opinion questions about the Kingdom. It is the first time that an opinion investigation was held on this scale about the Kingdom in the Netherlands.
Gig
The results of the opinion investigation show that European Dutch people know little about the Kingdom and the Kingdom Relations. Only less than a quarter says it is familiar with it. Yet they have a more positive picture of the Kingdom Relations then often thought. For example, a majority believes that residents of the islands are allowed to move freely to the Netherlands and that the Netherlands has a moral duty to take care of the islands. The largest group also believes that the Netherlands should support the islands financially and that residents of the Caribbean Netherlands should have the same social provisions as in the European Netherlands.
Lots of ceremonial
Formally, the inaugural lecture served as the acceptance of his position as a newly named special professor. An oration is an important event with a lot of ceremonial. As usual, the oration was attended by other professors, all dressed in a gown.
Guidance committee
The guidance committee for the chair, also known as the curatorium, consists of chairman Marja Spierenburg, professor of sustainable development and means of subsistence at Leiden University, Gert Oostindie, emeritus professor of colonial and post -colonial history at Leiden University, Tom Louwerse Vansisiek Leiden Institut of the Institut of the Institute of the Institute of the Manual of Manual of Leiden Institute, The Institute of the Manual of Manual of Leiden Institute, The Institut of the Manual of Manual of Leiden Institute, the Manual of Management of the Manual of Manual of Leiden, the Manual of Manual of Manual of Leiden, and Sask. Director of Kingdom Relations Countries of the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations.
Knowledge development
De Reuver congratulated Veenendaal on behalf of the Directorate-General of Kingdom Relations of the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations. The chair that holds Wouter Veenendaal is very important for knowledge development in and about the kingdom. It is nice to see that Wouter picks up this task with so much enthusiasm and professionalism
.