The Cultural Fund Changes Name: Prince Bernhard’s Controversial Past Sparks Decision

By our entertainment editors

Nov 7, 2023 at 11:12 AM Update: 38 minutes ago

The Prince Bernhard Cultural Fund is changing its name. The institution is no longer named after the prince and is now called The Cultural Fund. This decision follows after it was established last month that the prince was a member of Adolf Hitler’s NSDAP party.

“With respect and appreciation for the past, the Cultural Fund will continue from today with a name that fits who we are today and with a focus on our content,” Cathelijne Broers, director of the Cultural Fund, said in a statement.

“The Cultural Fund is the only fund in the Netherlands to which you can donate and apply for money across the full spectrum of culture and nature. It is therefore important that everyone can recognize themselves in our name.”

The Government Information Service does not comment substantively on the name change. However, the service informed NU.nl that it “warmly supports the work of the fund”.

Prince Bernhard, who died in 2004, recently became controversial after his NSDAP membership card was found. Until his death, the prince had always denied that he had been a member of Hitler’s party.

Historian Flip Maarschalkerweerd, also former director of the Royal Archives, found the membership card in the prince’s private archives. He reported his find NRC and in his book The Stragglers.

King Willem-Alexander responded to the find by saying that “we must face the past, even the less beautiful parts”. “I can well imagine that the news has a major impact and evokes many emotions, especially among the Jewish community.”

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Cultuurfonds was ‘very surprised’ after revelation

The Cultural Fund said it was very surprised after the revelation. “We are going to list what this means for us as a Cultural Fund,” a spokesperson said. The fund has now decided to no longer bear the prince’s name.

Every year, the Cultural Fund invests more than 35 million euros in culture and nature for thousands of projects in the Netherlands and the Caribbean part of the kingdom.

Beatrix, Bernhard’s daughter, is currently visiting Curaçao. Her trip is dedicated to the work of the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA), of which the princess is patron. The foundation regularly collaborates with the Cultural Fund.

The fund annually awards the Silver Carnation, an award for people who have made a contribution to Dutch culture on a voluntary basis. The name of the prize comes from the carnation that Dutch people wore in their buttonhole in protest against the German occupation. This was done for the first time on Prince Bernhard’s birthday.

The prince presented the prize until his death. Then Beatrix did the honors. Another prize from the fund, the Culture Fund Prize, will be presented by Queen Máxima on November 20.

2023-11-07 10:12:36
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