Thomas von der Dunk
(Soest, NL 1961) is a cultural historian and writer. For a number of years he worked as a researcher at various universities. Since 2002 he has been a freelance writer and political commentator. His often merciless columns, in which he frequently goes for the player, not seldom lead to controversy. In 2011 he was commissioned to do the Dutch Willem Arondéus lecture. When it appeared that he mercilessly attacked Dutch politician Geert Wilders' populist party, he was asked to leave out several passages. Von der Dunk refused and hence the lecture was called off. Von der Dunk decided to read it out anyway, with a turnout of 1,200 listeners. In his lecture he argued that there is a new taboo on comparisons with WWII, while these can be instructive and relevant in our times. Von der Dunk has published some fifteen books on as many cultural and historical subjects, varying from a German political portrayal of life and customs of ten centuries to a history of the Moses and Aron Church in Amsterdam.
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Archive available for: Thomas von der Dunk
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Thomas von der Dunk: The text of my life
The greenhouse just outside the theatre is the place to hang out with smokers. What you can't do inside, you can do outside. And there they are, listening via loudspeakers to what's happening in the Greenhouse Effect. Peering through the glass they see Manon Uphoff and Aleid Truijens receiving writers. Someone else every twenty minutes. Now it's Thomas von der Dunk's turn, the cultural philosopher. The festival asked him the question: what text changed his life. Which poem or which fragment from a novel. He doens't know. There is so much... Maybe he'll find out tonight. You ask him! Programme in Dutch.
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The Third Chamber of Parliament
Third Chamber chair Ruben Maes invites you to debate, interrupt, and introduce amendments. Bring true democracy closer. Even if it is just for one evening. Five guests will spark off the debate: philosopher Maxim Februari opens with a column on the notion of citizen. Then cultural historian Thomas von der Dunk, journalist Paul van der Gaag and writers Christine Otten and David Van Reybrouck enter into a discussion with you, the audience. In Dutch.
