
In the Dutch context and beyond, the commemoration of heroes and heroines has become a deeply contested issue in the domain of heritage. Whilst discussions surrounding the topic have existed for quite some time, the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests have sparked a new sense of urgency to critically consider which hero(ine)s we commemorate and how we commemorate them. The commemoration of colonial figures has become particularly contested, as their historical hero status has become questionable in the present. What should we do with such contested heroes today? Whose heroes and heroines should we commemorate? Who deserves the label of ‘hero/ine?’ What does it really mean to label someone a ‘hero/ine?’ As an institution with a colonial legacy, the ethnographic museum must attempt to deal with such questions when exhibiting heroes and heroines in the postcolonial present. With this project, I aim to offer possible ways in which the ethnographic museum may navigate these questions. To reach this objective, I will first build upon existing academic literature to explore the meanings of the notion of ‘hero/ine’ as well as the question of why we have heroes and heroines, particularly focusing on the domain of heritage. Second, based on the interviews I conducted with NMVW research and curatorial staff, I will examine how museum professionals interpret the figure of the hero/ine and how they would navigate the selection and representation of heroes and heroines in a possible future exhibition on ‘the hero/ine’ in the context of the NMVW. Ultimately, I hope to contribute a deeper understanding of the complexities around the figure of the hero/ine and what it may mean to commemorate heroes and heroines when working with a colonial collection in the postcolonial present.