Dutch Culture Room

Before World War II, the general view was that the government should not interfere in the arts. However, in 1941 the secretary-general of the Department of Public Information and the Arts (DPRK), Tobie Goedewaagen, adopted a different policy. Goedewaagen was a convinced member of the NSB and his goal was to create a National Socialist culture state, where the makers of 'good' art would flourish. Goedewaagen had a different view than the German Minister of Propaganda, Goebbels, who considered the quality of the arts less important than the purpose they were supposed to serve, namely Nazi propaganda. Goedewaagen, on the other hand, believed in the civilizing power of good art. However, he did agree with the superior role of the Aryan race. Jews were soon disbanded from the cultural professions. Art became a government matter, and the DPRK only promoted arts that met certain stylistic and substantive requirements. According to National Socialism, art was specific to the people, so people had to be able to see what was depicted in a work of art. The subjects of the artworks had to be portrayed realistically. Abstract and expressionist art was therefore labeled as 'evil', also referred to as degenerate art. The Nederlandse Kultuurkamer was founded by Goedewaagen as a variant of the German Reichskulturkammer, and was an organization for people who practiced a cultural profession. Only members of the Dutch Chamber of Culture were allowed to practice their profession, but membership was not for everyone, because an Aryan declaration had to be sent as well. A small minority of prominent artists refused, but most people joined. After Mad Tuesday on September 5, 1944, the DPRK fell apart.