Tegenspel - Counterplay
A new exhibition at Het Loo museum, in which 123 years of female kingship in the Netherlands is highlighted.
This exhibition coincides with the Jubilee Year of Women, proclaimed by the United Nations in 1975, together with the 80th anniversary of the Freedom of the Netherlands.
It focuses on the three queens, Wilhelmina, Juliana and Beatrix, and their ‘leadership’, which took place in a rapidly changing society, especially in terms of gender relations. It examines how smoothly the transition of their management – from 'tradition' to 'modernity' – took place; how much their leadership was based on 'femininity' and female qualities; the role their partners had played in the quality of their management, and in shaping their image; and the role of the media in 'making' or 'breaking' this image - at one time the media from outside, zooms in on the royal family, at another time the media from within, is used as an instrument.
Moreover, this show not only reveals the truth behind the persistent myths, but at the same time creates an opportunity for dialogue, to address several social issues: how do we describe the role of women as leaders in 2025? Or even: how do we define the meaning of 'leadership' in general? What is our idea of freedom and peace? Can we say that we are truly liberated? And are women free to shape their leadership based on their female qualities – on their pacifist tendencies, on their compassion and motherhood? And what is the real role and responsibilities of the media?
Although, the protagonists in this display are the queens (the leaders), their partners and the media, we must ask ourselves: where do we position ourselves in the 'counterplay’ ?
Are we ’sideline viewers” – part of the media-consuming society?
Or, just part of a critical society?
Or are we accountable for being involved in the ‘society forming’, to influence our media policy on the one hand- based on the crucial components of ethical and responsible media practices- and on the other hand, to support our Royal Family in shaping their leadership, based on our collective consciousness, and our constructive participation?
And what about reflecting upon the kind of queen we want, with the arrival of Amalia – a character like Wilhelmina, with a (military) male role model? or a pacifist, motherly- oriented Juliana? or an efficient business- oriented Beatrix? or are we looking for a queen with a renaissance mentality?
But perhaps we should start by redefining the multifaceted meanings of, 'liberation' & ‘peace’, of (female) 'leadership’, and of the rol of the media - a ‘making-braking’ instrument, or an instrument of enlightenment?