Reading the Cultural Archive in Het Zuid-Afrikahuis: Coloniality, Racial Capitalism, and Dutch Whiteness.

The article examines how the Zuid-Afrikahuis (zah) in Amsterdam perpetuates narratives of Dutch whiteness and coloniality through its spatial and material arrangements. Building on Gloria Wekker's concept of the cultural archive, it argues that the zah's displays, particularly in the zasm meeting room, reinforce a kinship narrative between the Dutch and Boer-Afrikaners while marginalizing Black South Africans. The analysis highlights how objects within the zah, such as portraits and artifacts, reflect and sustain racial capitalism and selective historical memory, revealing the ongoing impact of colonial legacies in contemporary Dutch society. The article calls for a critical re-evaluation of cultural heritage practices to address these historical omissions and promote more inclusive narratives. [Extracted from the article]