Lezing: Helmen Vol Verhalen

• 12 June 2026
  • 20:00 – 22:00

During this meeting, artist Diederick Kraaijeveld, young veteran Oege Venema, and project leader Amy van Son share their experiences with the project and the creative process. Helmen Vol Verhalen centers on personal mission stories of Dutch veterans. These stories serve as the inspiration for artworks by twenty-two artists, who, together with the veterans, make the impact of peacekeeping missions visible to a broad audience.

A notable example within the project is the collaboration between Venema and Kraaijeveld. Venema served as an EOD driver in Afghanistan and Mali. Kraaijeveld translated his experiences into an artwork of a Bushmaster vehicle, constructed from old ammunition crates, as a symbol of the protection and pride the vehicle offered him during his missions. The project demonstrates what forty-five years of Dutch participation in UN peacekeeping missions has meant for military personnel and their families. Veterans from all branches of the armed forces have been paired with artists, who have visualized their stories in diverse disciplines such as photography, painting, and installations.

Initiator Amy van Son, a veteran herself, emphasizes the importance of sharing these stories. Expressing experiences helps with processing and contributes to greater understanding and recognition in society. In this context, art serves as a connecting language between military and civilian. Alongside the exhibition, the ReUniForm project by fashion designer Jaap Spruitenburg is also on display, in which personal stories of veterans have been incorporated into custom-made designs.

The lecture starts at 20:00, doors open at 19:15.

You can also come and have a nice dinner beforehand at 18:00,

Before the lecture, you can enjoy a delicious 1, 2, or 3-course buffet prepared on authentic WWII field kitchens. From 18:00, you can watch the Live Cooking and learn how they managed to keep feeding our Liberators on the West Front for months. The main course we prepare is the Blauwe Hap, a very tasty nasi goreng platter with a story. Come and experience this unique event before the lecture and book it with your lecture ticket.