How can the stories of war victims contribute to safeguarding peace?

The Dutch War Graves Foundation manages more than 50,000 war graves worldwide and has registered 180,000 people as war victims. Men, women, and children who lost their lives during the Second World War or during violent conflicts thereafter, such as in the former Dutch East Indies and during recent peacekeeping missions. The Dutch War Graves Foundation seeks to keep the memory of these people alive by collecting and sharing their stories and by maintaining the 50,000 Dutch war graves worldwide.

The challenge
The Dutch War Graves Foundation manages more than 50,000 Dutch war graves worldwide. An important task. But how do you define this task? Of course, it includes maintaining the graves and their surroundings, but is that all? These are questions closely tied to the very reason for the foundation’s existence—and its future. And to the possible expansion of its societal role.

These questions marked the beginning of a long-term collaboration between the Dutch War Graves Foundation and Six Fingers. By analysing where society is heading and learning from social organisations worldwide, the insight emerged that the foundation is not only responsible for managing the past but also for the future. This strategy was developed further and built upon.

The insight
The graves maintained by the Dutch War Graves Foundation and the stories it collects serve as a warning to our generation. Because if we neglect peace, war victims are the price we pay. Therefore, we should not only remember the past but also think about the future. Peace is a collective project to which everyone can contribute. From remembrance to reflection — that is where the future lies. It is not only about “those who have fallen,” but also about “what would I do?” or “what can I do now?” Because peace requires active effort. Thus, the task of the Dutch War Graves Foundation is not only to manage graves, but also to raise awareness of everyone’s individual responsibility in safeguarding peace.

Many sessions were held to arrive at these crucial insights. With families of victims, other remembrance organisations, political stakeholders, and the Supervisory Board. Experiments were set up at the Loenen Military Cemetery with the aim of bringing the stories and dilemmas of victims “to life.” For example, visitors can now listen to victims’ stories via QR codes, which also pose moral dilemmas for listeners. How did you act in the schoolyard during a fight — did you look away or step in? The concept for the annual remembrance on May 4 was also redesigned together, so that not only the past is commemorated, but also each individual’s role in safeguarding peace in the future is highlighted.

By generating ideas and setting up experiments to bring stories “to life,” presenting dilemmas to visitors at the cemeteries, and developing new forms of communication, we have contributed to the important mission of the Dutch War Graves Foundation. And for that, we are grateful.