In the 1950s, for reasons of cultural diplomacy, a Dutch quasi governmental organisation, the Stichting ter Bevordering van de Vertaling van Nederlands Letterkundig Werk (The Foundation for the Promotion of the Translation of Dutch Literary Works) served by its bestuur (board), was established to raise awareness of its literature abroad. Its first key project involved translating a series of works called the Bibliotheca Neerlandica into English and to do this, the board established contacts with academics, translators and publishing companies. The purpose of this original research is to map the process of the export of Dutch language classics in the 1960s and to ascertain how they relate to the canon of Dutch language and literature.
My methodological approach uses qualitative and quantitative research methods and involves isolating the three literary participants of the project, the board, the translators and publishers to enable me to examine their experiences. I use internet analysis and archival research to both scrutinize the micro-history of the board and the formation of volumes for export as well as to clarify the canon of Dutch literature and its role regarding international cultural diplomacy.
My findings demonstrate the complexity of such a cross-cultural undertaking where internal strategic and organisational shortcomings and a lack of planning within an unfavourable external context combined to undermine the Bibliotheca Neerlandica’s fortunes. These are underlined by an influential chairman who selected works based on personal preferences, an ambiguous contract which made the onus of the works’press ready and final translations unclear, poor sales figures and the financial instability of the Heinemann publishing company which affected the 17 planned titles of the Bibliotheca Neerlandica.