Dutch films about World War Two

What is it about?

Images of Occupation in Dutch Film examines changing representations of the wartime occupation of the Netherlands by Germany within Dutch feature films, in particular those made between 1962 and 1986. The book traces an increasing ambiguity in these films, especially in their depictions of ‘the enemy’, Dutch identity, life under occupation, and resistance and collaboration—themes behind detailed analyses of seven key film texts, from De Overval (1962), to Paul Verhoeven's Soldaat van Oranje (1977) and Fons Rademakers' De Aanslag (1986). As Dutch public opinion towards the bleaker aspects of the occupation–Jewish persecution, collaboration and the devastating ‘Hunger Winter’ of 1944-45–altered over the post-war decades, so too shifted the presence–or absence–of these in subsequent films. This book seeks to deepen awareness of these compelling, valuable Dutch cultural documents, and to ask how a nation's films re-tell its history.

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Why is it important?

This is the first book in English, or any language, to explore in detail these compelling Dutch films about Holland's five-year occupation during World War Two. It aims to deepen awareness of these valuable Dutch cultural documents, and to ask how a nation's films can re-tell its history.