Inconvenient Heritage by Jos van Beurden is a thought-provoking book that delves into the complex issue of colonial collections and restitution in the Netherlands and Belgium. The book explores the history of how objects, ancestral remains, and archives from former colonial territories ended up in museums and private collections, and the growing calls for their return.
Recommended for: Anyone interested in the history of colonialism, cultural heritage, and the ongoing debates surrounding restitution and repatriation.
You will:
- Gain insight into the history of colonial collections and how they were acquired
- Understand the complexities of restitution and repatriation
- Learn about the experiences of former colonies and their demands for the return of their cultural heritage
- Discover how other former colonial powers are dealing with restitution
- Explore the ethical considerations and challenges involved in returning cultural objects
- Develop a deeper understanding of the need for trust, equality, and justice in the process of restitution
Detailed Overview
Inconvenient Heritage is a timely and important book that addresses the growing discomfort surrounding the possession of colonial collections in the Netherlands and Belgium. The book is divided into five parts, each exploring a different aspect of the issue.
Part I sets the scene, providing a framework for understanding the history of colonial collections and the ongoing debates surrounding restitution. Part II delves into the history of returns in the 1970s, including the cases of Indonesia, Congo, and Suriname.
Part III explores recent returns, including the campaigns for Māori heads and the return of objects from the Museum Nusantara. Part IV examines the less visible but equally important issue of private collections, including those held by missionary organizations and private individuals.
Finally, Part V looks to the future, exploring the need for a new ethics in the process of restitution and the lessons that can be learned from settler colonies and the restitution of Nazi-looted art.
Throughout the book, van Beurden draws on his extensive research and expertise in the field, providing a wealth of information and insights into the complex issues surrounding colonial collections and restitution. The book is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the history and ongoing debates surrounding cultural heritage and restitution.
Citation and Licensing
Jos van Beurden. AUP. (2022). Inconvenient Heritage. https://www.aup.nl/en/book/9789048557110/inconvenient-heritage
This ebook is published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0). The full licence terms are available at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
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