NIMH-NIOD research ‘The Netherlands and Afghanistan 2001-2021’

‘The Netherlands and Afghanistan 2001-2021' is an independent, historical-scientific analysis of Dutch military engagement, diplomatic activities and non-governmental involvement in Afghanistan between 2001 and 2021. The research programme is jointly conducted by the Netherlands Institute for Military History (NIMH) and the NIOD Institute for War, Holocaust and Genocide Studies, commissioned by the Dutch government.

‘The Netherlands and Afghanistan 2001-2021' is the first Dutch overarching, historical-scientific study done on this theme.

The role of the Netherlands in the context of an international war situation is studied: why the Netherlands was active in Afghanistan, how political and military decisions were made, why certain choices were or were not made, how they were legitimised and their impact and consequences for Afghanistan and in the Netherlands.

The research aims to clarify, reconstruct and interpret the context of the Dutch presence in Afghanistan based on scholarly source research. This is further explained in the research brief (in Dutch).

The research aims to paint an insightful picture of this period. The course of events in general and the effects of the Dutch presence in Afghanistan in particular are analysed. An important part of the study concerns the Dutch military missions on the ground. The researchers study the political-international context and do so from Afghan, international and Dutch perspectives.

'The Netherlands and Afghanistan 2001-2021' consists of nine substudies and will result in a final work in the form of a book. This will compile the final results of the research to provide insight into the intervention by the international coalition, its context and consequences, and the role of the Netherlands in it.

The researchers will study a large number of primary sources to reconstruct the reasons for and events during the Dutch presence in Afghanistan. They will also study the literature and gather information from a large group of stakeholders, including Afghans, veterans, policy makers and civilian professionals, to analyse topics from different perspectives.

The research programme is jointly conducted by the Netherlands Institute for Military History (NIMH) and the NIOD Institute for War, Holocaust and Genocide Studies, commissioned by the Dutch government.

For more information, visit NederlandAfghanistan.org