Starting in September 2025, an international consortium of researchers will begin an extensive investigation into the colonial past of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW). The project, titled Koloniale Macht en Kennis (Colonial Power and Knowledge), will explore how colonial histories shaped the Academy’s collections, buildings, and intellectual traditions. The consortium is led by Laurens de Rooy, curator and director of the Vrolik Museum at Amsterdam University Medical Centre, and brings together experts in history, anthropology, philosophy, and cultural studies.

The initiative aims to shed light on how colonial knowledge and power have been intertwined throughout the Academy’s history, and how those legacies continue to influence institutions today. Through case studies and comparative analysis, the project seeks to generate a deeper understanding of the Academy’s role in the colonial production of knowledge. It will also contribute to broader academic and public discussions on decolonisation in science and the humanities, examining both tangible heritage—such as collections and archives—and intangible aspects like institutional culture and epistemic authority.

The KMK consortium includes scholars from multiple continents, including the Netherlands, Indonesia, and Suriname. CultureLab Consultancy (Jakarta), directed by Dr Sadiah Boonstra, joins as a key partner, contributing local insight and access to postcolonial and diaspora knowledge networks. This collaboration highlights CultureLab’s commitment to connecting Indonesian perspectives to global debates on museum practices, colonial legacies, and cultural knowledge exchange. Working alongside the Anton de Kom Chair at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, CultureLab will support research outreach, documentation, and public engagement strategies within the project.

The project will also produce a public exhibition and a documentary film, amplifying underrepresented voices and narratives within the Academy’s history. Oral histories and collaborative storytelling will be central to these outputs, ensuring that the inquiry is not just about the Academy, but conducted with those historically affected by its legacy. This approach reflects a growing movement within museums and research institutions to confront colonial pasts with openness, dialogue, and accountability.

For CultureLab, this collaboration is an important step in expanding its role as both a museum and a social enterprise that bridges Indonesia’s cultural expertise with international institutions. “We see this as a meaningful opportunity to contribute to a shared process of decolonising knowledge,” said Dr Sadiah Boonstra, CultureLab’s founder and director. “By being part of this consortium, we continue our mission to build cross-regional collaborations that centre local histories and perspectives in shaping the future of cultural institutions.”