The Archiving Dutch Night and Club Culture Report Is Out Now!
Photo Credit: Raymond van Mil
What remains of a night that was never meant to be documented? The new report, Archiving Dutch Night and Club Culture, explores how nightlife communities, artists, and institutions across the Netherlands are documenting and safeguarding the past and present of club culture.
Commissioned by Podiumkunst.net and led by VibeLab, the study features 900 minutes of interviews, four case studies, six key recommendations, and a practical checklist to help grassroots communities start their own archival processes.
From illegal raves to iconic flyers, from queer house parties to regional scenes in Groningen, Eindhoven, Rotterdam, and Deventer, Dutch nightlife is rich, diverse, and deeply rooted in local communities across the country. The cultural DNA of the night is written not only in Amsterdam but in cities and regions nationwide, and these stories deserve a place in our collective memory.
Crucial part of the report is also to emphasize the importance of archiving marginalized voices that are often overlooked in mainstream narratives.
“You need a lot of flexibility and imagination because in collaborating with underrepresented groups, [and] grassroots organisations, you cannot come with a fixed mould.” — Migiza Victoriashoop, Head of Collections at Amsterdam City Archives
As nightlife culture gains recognition within the broader cultural heritage conversation, this report aims to ensure that preservation efforts centre the voices, contexts, and creative energy that define nightlife – safeguarding these stories for future generations.
The report explores key findings and recommendations related to the challenges and future of nightlife archiving
- Community Ownership:
Where possible, nightlife communities should own and manage their own archives. If institutional involvement is necessary, it should be guided by post-custodial approaches that maximise community ownership.
- Institutional Dynamics:
Recognising the inherent power imbalance and the risk of exploitation, collaborations between institutions and nightlife communities must prioritise equity, flexibility, and trust-building, which may require long-term engagement.
- Recognise Nightlife’s Cultural Value:
Acknowledge night and club culture as integral to Dutch heritage at institutional and governmental levels, and in doing so, adapt existing frameworks to embrace its ephemeral, and unconventional nature.
- Marginalised Voices:
Existing archives often exclude minoritised communities, non-commercial successes, and lesser-know regions, reinforcing a narrow perspective on the origins, evolution, and pioneers of night culture.
- Embrace Diversity:
Actively seek out and engage with diverse communities, not just those that are easy to identify due to commercial success, to achieve a more comprehensive and representative spectrum of nightlife culture.
- Develop Ethical Guidelines:
In partnership with nightlife communities, establish clear ethical guidelines for archiving nightlife culture, and address privacy and copyright concerns.
And more…
Would you like to archive your scene? Connect with us
Mirik@vibe-lab.org
Lutz@vibe-lab.org