In 1971, Her Majesty Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands visited UC Berkeley in honor of the founding of the first Dutch studies program in the United States. She created the Princess Beatrix Chair of Dutch Language, Literature, and Culture — later renamed the Queen Beatrix chair — with Professor Johan Snapper as the inaugural chairholder.
A group of donors has come together 51 years later to create the Professor Johan Snapper Endowment for Dutch Studies in honor of Professor Snapper’s lasting contributions to the field and university. The $135,000 fund, which Professor Jeroen Dewulf plans to use to establish an annual lecture on Dutch literature, was announced on the occasion of another royal visit.
On September 7, 2022, Her Majesty Queen Máxima visited UC Berkeley and met with faculty members and students in the Dutch program. Dutch Minister of Education, Culture, and Science Robert Dijkgraaf announced the launch of the Dutch Network for Academics in the U.S. (DNA-US), which will aim to promote knowledge-sharing among Dutch researchers in the United States, as well as scholars with strong ties to the Netherlands.
From left: Lena de Kesel-Lams; John Ballard; Dita Pepin, Tineke Jacobsen; Torsten Jacobsen; Arts & Humanities Dean Sara Guyer; His Excellency Robbert Dijkgraaf, Minister of Education, Culture, and Science; former Dutch Studies staff member Monique Elias; Prof. Emeritus Tony Long, DAGRS; and Jeroen Dewulf, Queen Beatrix Professor, Department of German & Dutch Studies and Director, Institute of European Studies. Photo by Sofia Liashcheva.
During the visit, Chancellor Carol Christ said, “It is a distinct honor and pleasure to welcome Her Majesty, Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, to the Berkeley campus… We will always value these strong ties between the Cal family and the royal family.”
Housed within the German department in the Division of Arts and Humanities, the Dutch studies program supports an undergraduate major and doctoral designated emphasis. The program is one of only six in the U.S., and is known for its inclusive approach to Dutch studies with an expanded understanding of Dutch language and culture beyond traditional Netherlands-centered curriculum.
Professor Emeritus Snapper is the author of six books and over 50 articles. He received a Congressional Citation of Merit (USA) for his scholarly and community service, and he has been knighted as Officer in the Order of Orange-Nassau (the Netherlands) and Officer in the Order of the Crown (Belgium).
“From Spinoza and Rembrandt to 19th-century novels and contemporary media theory, key conversations in the humanities and arts have been shaped by Dutch artists, writers, leaders, and thinkers.” — Sara Guyer, Dean, Division of Arts & Humanities.
Tineke Jacobsen, parent of a Cal alum and former board member of the Netherlands America University League, initiated this new endowed fund in honor of Professor Snapper’s preeminence and Berkeley’s five decades of thought leadership.
The Lipjhart family also came together to support the fund. Lijphart ’85, professor emeritus at UC San Diego, is an influential political scientist and a former UC Berkeley colleague of Prof. Snapper’s. Lijphart was a student of Professor Snapper. Anna Lijphart ’87 is a longtime donor to UC Berkeley who took classes in Dutch studies.
“I understand the powerful effect of philanthropy on a worthy cause,” Anna explains. “I appreciate the vision of the Dutch Studies faculty in having an annual lecture that brings the community and public together on an ongoing basis.”
Additional donors to the inaugural lecture include Lena de Kesel-Lams and Dita Pepin, as well as Monique Elias and Professor Emeritus Tony Long.
Chancellor Carol Christ, Her Majesty Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, and students Elizabeth Sun, Abigail Struhl, Aparajita Das, Robert Schutz, and Sean Cronan discuss research. Photo by Sofia Liashcheva.
“From Spinoza and Rembrandt to 19th-century novels and contemporary media theory, key conversations in the humanities and arts have been shaped by Dutch artists, writers, leaders, and thinkers. Our Dutch and Flemish studies program reflects the importance of this powerful history and ensures its continued relevance as a source of intellectual inquiry in our present,” said Sara Guyer, dean of UC Berkeley’s Division of Arts & Humanities.
