18-03-2026

On 12 March Francio Guadeloupe (KITLV), appointed as KNAW Professor of Public Anthropology of Kingdom Relations, delivered his inaugural lecture 'Reweaving Dutch Caribbean studies' at the University of Amsterdam. In his lecture he argued that it is impossible to consider the Dutch Caribbean islands and the Netherlands as separate worlds with distinct native cultures.

Such a view, he stated, ignores the way the life trajectories of singular people interweave the Kingdom on an everyday level. 

Research lines

In the research lines Francio will be pursuing for this chair, which was  established in 2024 by the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (BZK), he will study trans-Atlantic cultural and intellectual interweavers, trans-Atlantic kinship and romantic relationships, the impact of Dutch tourism on the Netherlands and the islands, and the study of the workers and owners of the means of production on the islands.

Text inaugural lecture

The text of Francio's inaugural lecture has been made availabe online and can be read here:

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In the media

Bonaire.nu, 13 March 2026
The Peoples' Tribune, 13 March 2026
Rijksoverheid.nl, 12 March 2026