On Thursday, June 3, and Friday, June 4, 2027, the biennial Interdisciplinary Conference for Netherlandic Studies (ICNS) will take place at the University of California, Berkeley. The main theme of the conference will be: Free Speech on the Fault Lines: Traditions of Expression and Tolerance in Dutch Studies.
Situated at UC Berkeley—the birthplace of the Free Speech Movement—this interdisciplinary conference explores the historic and evolving connections between freedom of expression, social activism, transformative liberation movements, and the traditions of tolerance. We invite proposals that examine—directly or indirectly—how concepts of free speech, censorship, dissent, and expression have shaped history, literature, visual culture, language, and society in the Dutch-speaking world across time.
While proposals engaging with the conference theme are particularly encouraged, we also welcome strong contributions on other topics within Dutch Studies, including (but not limited to) literature, linguistics, art history, cultural studies, history, politics, and sociology. Select papers will be considered for inclusion in a subsequent conference publication in a special issue of Dutch Crossing: Journal of Low Countries Studies.
Graduate students are especially encouraged to participate. Four travel grants of $500 each will be awarded to graduate students who present a paper.
Featuring:
Keynote speaker Jaap Verheul, Emeritus Professor of Transatlantic Relations at Radboud University, Nijmegen, Co-Editor/Author of Discovering the Dutch. On Culture and Society of the Netherlands. Amsterdam University Press, 2024 (Third edition).
Film screening in BAMPFA of the documentary De Tijd Geest (1968) by Johan van der Keuken (with English subtitles), followed by a panel discussion.
Workshop for Dutch Language Instructors (by invitation only) on Wednesday, June 2, 2027 – morning and afternoon, led by Dr. Kimberly Vinall and Dr. Emily Hellmich, Executive and Associate Directors of the Berkeley Language Center (BLC). This workshop will focus on AI Language Technologies in Language Teaching/Learning.
Submission and Registration:
For consideration, please submit an abstract of 250 words and a short bio to Ineke Huysman, ineke.huysman@huygens.knaw.nl with “ICNS Abstract” in the subject line by January 31, 2027. Acceptance notifications will be given by February 15, 2027.
Logistics/hotel information will be forthcoming. The conference fee is $275 ($175 for graduate students). Film screening and conference dinner are included in the conference fee. AANS membership is required to attend the conference. The AANS membership fees, which includes a subscription to the journal Dutch Crossing, are $90 for standard membership, $30 for full-time graduate students, and $70 for emeriti/retired.
Conference Coordinators:
Jeroen Dewulf (jdewulf@berkeley.edu), Queen Beatrix Professor, Esmée van der Hoeven (ievanderhoeven@berkeley.edu), Lecturer, Department of German & Dutch Studies, University of California, Berkeley, and Ineke Huysman (ineke.huysman@huygens.knaw.nl), Senior Researcher at Huygens Institute in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.