Three historians compete for top prize on WWII cultural property research
Three finalists have been selected for the Thesis Prize on Cultural Property from WWII, uncovering hidden stories of post-war art management, aid initiatives, and wartime exhibitions. Their research sheds light on overlooked aspects of Dutch history, with the winner announced on April 14.
| Key Data Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Finalists | Emma van Benthem, Laura Molijn, Veronica Simmelink |
| Prize Ceremony | April 14, 2026, at the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands (RCE) |
| First Prize | €3,000 |
| Second & Third Prize | €1,000 each |
| Research Topics | Post-war art management, Amsterdam’s aid to Arnhem, Rijksmuseum exhibition |
| Jury Members | Iris Looman (RCE), Henrike Hövelmann (Jewish Cultural Quarter), Eelke Muller (NIOD), Jaap Cohen (Restitution Committee), Jesse Breet (2024 winner) |
| Organizer | Cultural Property from WWII Platform |
The Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands (RCE) plays a key role in preserving and researching Dutch cultural heritage, including artifacts and historical narratives from WWII. This thesis prize highlights the agency’s commitment to uncovering and sharing lesser-known stories from this period.
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Finalists announced for the Thesis Prize on Cultural Property from WWII (1933-1945)
The jury has selected three finalists who are in the running for the Thesis Prize on Cultural Property from WWII (1933-1945). In alphabetical order, they are: Emma van Benthem, Laura Molijn, and Veronica Simmelink. The prize will be awarded at the Cultural Property from WWII Platform Meeting at the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands (RCE) on April 14.
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Candidates
The candidates conducted research on cultural property related to World War II in the broadest sense. The finalists introduce themselves:
Emma van Benthem
Emma van Benthem earned her master’s degree in Curating Art and Cultures (specialization Arts of the Netherlands) at the University of Amsterdam. For her thesis, titled *National Interest or Private Loss: Post-war Art Management by the Domestic Department of the Dutch Art Foundation*, she examined the archives of the largely unknown Domestic Department. This department managed artworks discovered after World War II in the possession of (alleged) collaborators and enemies of the state, including Germans residing in the Netherlands. In her thesis, Emma demonstrates that the Domestic Department played a far more complex and problematic role than previously assumed.
Laura Molijn
Laura Molijn completed the research master’s program in History at the University of Amsterdam. Her thesis is titled: *From “Pulses” to “Rakes”: A Socio-Cultural Analysis of the Post-war Aid Action “Amsterdam Helps Arnhem” (1945)*. In her research, Laura examines the aid initiative launched by the Amsterdam municipal government in July 1945 as part of the nationwide Adoption Plan, which paired severely affected southern and eastern municipalities with less affected northern and western ones. Laura discovered this aid action during an internship at the Amsterdam City Archives, where she found virtually no prior historical research on the topic.
Veronica Simmelink
Veronica Simmelink graduated from Radboud University in Nijmegen with a master’s degree in Art and Culture Studies, specializing in Art History. The title of her thesis is *An Exhibition in “Extraordinary Circumstances”: Our Art of Today at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, 1939–40*, which focuses on one of the last exhibitions held at the Rijksmuseum before Nazi Germany occupied the Netherlands on May 10, 1940. Veronica encountered the exhibition during an internship at the Van Bommel van Dam Museum in Venlo and was surprised to find little written about it. Using archival materials and newspaper articles, she reconstructed the exhibition’s origins, development, and impact.
Jury
The first prize is accompanied by a €3,000 award, while the second and third prizes come with €1,000 each. The finalists will use these funds for a development project of their choice.
The jury for the Thesis Prize on Cultural Property from WWII consists of:
- Iris Looman (chair), RCE
- Henrike Hövelmann, Jewish Cultural Quarter
- Eelke Muller, NIOD Institute for War, Holocaust and Genocide Studies
- Jaap Cohen, Restitution Committee
- Jesse Breet, winner of the 2024 WWII Thesis Prize
Perry Schrier (RCE) serves as the jury’s secretary.