‘Living Archives’ (Levende Archieven) is a collaborative art project that uses cultural exchange and co-creation to draw attention to the culture of the Caribbean part of the Kingdom and our shared history. There is a Wilhelminapark in Breda, Tilburg and Curaçao. These parks bear traces of history, such as the colonial past, but are also meeting places for the present and the future. In this project, we explore together what this history means in the here and now, collaborating with Dansnest Breda, DansBrabant Tilburg and the Curaçaoan community in both cities.

There are 21 Wilhelmina Parks scattered across the globe. These were established in the Netherlands, Indonesia and the Caribbean part of the kingdom (Bonaire and Curaçao) during the colonial era and form a forgotten reminder of this period. This led us to ask the question: how can we make the traces of Dutch colonialism visible in an open, respectful and connecting way, while at the same time learning more about the Caribbean part of the kingdom? In our vision, all Wilhelmina Parks are meeting places. Here, the past, present and future come together in the movements of people, nature and culture.

Living Archives will take place from spring to autumn 2026 in Breda and Tilburg. The working method is based on reciprocity and relay: each contribution feeds into the next step.
We will start with co-creation meetings in which Curaçao, the Caribbean and our shared heritage play a role. This will be followed by two public performances: one in Wilhelminapark in Breda and one in Tilburg in a joint theatrical walk with dance, music and performance. The stories we collect and the conversations we have will lead to the creation of a podcast and a composition for the two cities.

Want to know more or participate? Read more about the call here.

We realise Living Archives in collaboration with:

Dansnest (Breda) – Dansnest takes the movement of the body as its starting point and creates unique connections between the environment, dancers and the audience in special and challenging locations. Social issues are naturally linked to artistic interventions by engaging in a long-term working process at the heart of society for inspiration, new insights and stories that encourage participation.

DansBrabant (Tilburg) – DansBrabant is a production house and development centre for contemporary dance makers. Based in Tilburg, they collaborate with dancers, choreographers and partners from the region, the country and beyond. DansBrabant works with makers, in this project with Ulrike Doszman, who question the discipline, break it open and search for new ways to show their work and engage the audience.

De Link (Tilburg) – De Link is a concert organisation for new music, led by composers, musicians and enthusiasts. As creators and performers, they share their enthusiasm with the audience, provide a stage for international top talent and support the development of young talent.

We also collaborate with representatives of the Curaçao community in Breda and Tilburg, including Stichting Gedeeld Verleden, Stichting Comité 30 juni – 1 juli Tilburg and Antaru.