Between recognition and exclusion: Moluccan herritage in Dutch public space

Abstract

This thesis explored how Moluccan history and identity are represented in the public space of the Arnhem-Nijmegen region, through public memory practices, such as monuments, commemorations, museums and cultural events. It also examined how members of the Moluccan community experience these practices and how they engage with them. Although the Moluccan community has lived in the Netherlands for more than 70 years, their visibility in the public space appears to be limited. Through interviews, surveys and observations, it emerged that public memory practices exist but are often small-scale and do not adequately reflect the complexity of Moluccan history and identity. Overall, the respondents value these practices, but they also highlight the lack of wider social recognition. Differences within the community, for example in terms of generation or political orientation, lead to divergent views on how Moluccan history and identity should be represented. Nevertheless, there is a strong desire for visibility and recognition. Public memory practices can contribute to this, but only if they are supported by structural attention in the media, education and policy.