Lecture by Dr Stefanie Massink & musical performance by Stef Van Vynckt

As part of the exhibition Het Aktiverend Volksteater, there will be a special programme on Sunday 28 June. At 2.30 pm, artist David Maroto will give an introduction to his work.

This will be followed at 3.00 pm by a lecture by Dr Stefanie Massink on the role of the Netherlands in Spain’s transition from dictatorship to democracy. At 4.00 pm, harpist Stef Van Vynckt will perform a piece by Hanna Darboven.

In this lecture, Dr Stefanie Massink will examine in greater depth the role of the Netherlands in Spain’s transition from dictatorship to democracy. Although the Netherlands is often seen as a relatively minor player compared to countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and France, this lecture demonstrates that the Netherlands did indeed exert influence on the democratisation process in Spain. In particular, the Netherlands was able to set conditions regarding Spain’s accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and the European Community (EC). After all, Spain’s accession required the unanimous approval of all member states. The Netherlands acted as a critical ally on more than one occasion and, in that sense, played a significant role.

Stefanie Massink is an Assistant Professor of History of International Relations at Utrecht University. There, she specialises in the history of international relations, with a particular focus on the relationship between the Netherlands and Spain in the twentieth century. In her doctoral research, ‘The Dutch will give you problems’, she examined the period during which both the Netherlands and Spain were undergoing political transition (1973–1977).

Harpist Stef Van Vynckt is active in the field of contemporary classical music, is the founder of the up-and-coming chamber music ensemble EMC – Extended Music Collective, and has worked closely with leading contemporary composers. On this day, Stef will perform a section of Hanne Darboven’s piece Opus 45.

The artist Hanne Darboven creates numerous series of framed sheets of paper covered with handwritten numbers, symbols and words. Exploring the concept of time is central to her work. To this end, Darboven developed her own calculation system to convert Gregorian dates into a single number, which she then translates into music. In collaboration with the Hanne Darboven Foundation and harpist Stef Van Vynckt, the musical piece Harp Solo – Opus 45 (1998–2000) was performed for the first time in 2024.

This programme has been organised in collaboration with the Instituto Cervantes and the concert organiser De Link from Tilburg.

Date | Sunday 28 June
Time | 2.30 pm
Venue | Witte Rook – StadsGalerij, Oude Vest 34, Breda
Admission | free