OA

Nederland in de jaren negentig

The Netherlands in the 1990s. Myth, Historiography and Research Agenda

As in other countries, the 1990s have received much attention from Dutch historians in recent years. This article discusses two shortcomings that hinder a proper understanding of this crucial era. The first issue concerns popular works, which strongly shape collective memory. In podcasts, TV programs, books, and other formats, non-academics fondly recall this ‘golden age’ through personal memories, portraying the Netherlands as a paradise. This nostalgia, partly rooted in escapism, idealizes and mythologizes the era. Historians and other academics, by contrast, take a more critical stance but – and this is the second shortcoming – focus mainly on political history. As a result, ‘ordinary people’ and important socio-cultural developments are largely overlooked. This article outlines how future research on this pivotal decade can fill that gap, debunk the paradise myth, and give new momentum to the historiography of decades.