Prof. dr. Wouter Veenendaal, Professor by special appointment Kingdom Relations and
Associate Professor Comparative Politics at the Institute of Political Science of Leiden
University held his inaugural speech yesterday, Monday. Veenendaal held his
inaugural speech as holder of the professor chair Democratic Representation in the
Kingdom. This professor chair was established by Ministry of Home Affairs and
Kingdom Relations (BZK) last year.
Research agenda
During his oration, titled ‘Based on equality? Scale and democracy in the Kingdom’,
Veenendaal expounded on the various parts of his research agenda as holder of the
professor chair. For the professor chair Veenendaal has set two objectives: the securing and
expanding of research of the Kingdom and the Kingdom relations, and the promoting of the
collaboration in the area of research and education with universities and scientist on the
Caribbean islands. To give content to the latter, Veenendaal has recruiting three local
research assistants in Aruba, Curaçao and St. Maarten. Together with Veenendaal, they will
carry out research in the coming years as a kingdom-wide research team.
Four research lines
During his oration, Veenendaal explained the four research lines of his professor chair which
he hopes to set out in the coming years. These are: politics and democracy on the Caribbean
islands in the Kingdom; democratic representation of the Caribbean islands in the Kingdom;
the perception of the Kingdom relations in the European Netherlands; and a comparative
research of other non-sovereign territories.
Opinion poll
During his speech at the university on Monday, Veenendaal also announced the first results
of an opinion poll that he had carried out among residents of the European Netherlands
before his oration. The opinion poll was carried out under the LISS panel of the University of
Tilburg. Some 2,700 people took part in this research and answered various know-how and
opinion questions about the Kingdom. It is the first time that an opinion poll of this size about
the Kingdom was carried out in the Netherlands.
More positive view
The results of the opinion poll show that people in the European Netherlands know little about
the Kingdom and the Kingdom relations. Only fewer than one quarter says that they know
about it. Still, they have a more positive view of the Kingdom relations than often thought.
For example, a majority is of the opinion that residents of the island should remain able to
freely move to the Netherlands and that the Netherlands has the moral duty to take care of
the islands. The biggest group also finds that the Netherlands should financially support the
islands and that residents of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba should have the same social
facilities as in the European Netherlands.
Lots of ceremonial
Formally Veenendaal’s inaugural speech meant the formal acceptance of his position as
professor by special appointment. An oration is an important event with lots of ceremonial. As
usual, other professors attended the oration, dressed in a robe.
Supervisory committee
The supervisory committee for the professor chair , also named the ‘curatorium’, consists of
chairperson Professor Anthropology of Sustainable Development and Means of Existence at
Leiden University Marja Spierenburg, Professor Emeritus Colonial and Post-Colonial History
at Leiden University Gert Oostindie, Associate Professor Political Science and Research
Director of the Institute of Political Science of Leiden University Tom Louwerse and Director
Kingdom Relations Countries of the Ministry of BZK Saskia de Reuver.
Knowledge development
De Reuver congratulated Veenendaal on behalf of the Directorate-general Kingdom Relations
of the Ministry of BZK. ‘The professor chair that Veenendaaal holds is very important for the
knowledge development in and about the Kingdom. It is great to see that Wouter takes on this
task with such enthusiasm and professionality’.